| diphtheria toxoid | The formaldehyde-inactivated toxin of corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is generally used in mixtures with tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine (dtp) or with tetanus toxoid alone (dt for paediatric use and td, which contains 5- to 10-fold less diphtheria toxoid, for other use). Diphtheria toxoid is used for the prevention of diphtheria; diphtheria antitoxin is for treatment. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| toxoid | <pharmacology> Nontoxic derivative of a bacterial exotoxin produced by formaldehyde or other chemical treatment: useful as a vaccine because it retains most antigenic properties of the toxin. (12 Jan 1998) |