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Low Prevalence of Pertussis Among Children Admitted With Respiratory Symptoms During Respiratory Syncytial Virus Season

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

George K. Siberry ,
Nicholas R. Paquette ,
Tracy L. Ross ,
Trish M Perl  and
Alexandra Valsamakis
George K. Siberry*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Nicholas R. Paquette
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Tracy L. Ross
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Trish M Perl
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Alexandra Valsamakis
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Divisions of Clinical Virology and Molecular Microbiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Park 385, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287 (gksiberr@jhmi.edu)
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Abstract

Pertussis may go unrecognized during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemics. Nosocomially transmitted pertussis can be severe in infants. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening may identify infants with pertussis on admission, allowing for preemptive isolation. In a random sample, 1 (0.6%) of 166 children admitted to the hospital during RSV season were Bordetella pertussis PCR positive during a nonepidemic period. These data show that screening may not be useful when pertussis prevalence is low.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 95 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2006

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