IngentaConnect Pertussis in young infants: apnoea and intra-familial infection

Authors: Raymond, J.¹; Armengaud, J.-B.²; Cosnes-Lambe, C.²; Chalumeau, M.²; Bosdure, E.²; Reglier-Poupet, H.¹; El Hajje, M.-J.²; Iniguez, J.-L.²; Moulin, F.²; Poyart, C.¹; Gendrel, D.²

Source: Clinical Microbiology & Infection, Volume 13, Number 2, February 2007 , pp. 172-175(4)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Abstract:

This study investigated 41 infants, aged <4 months, who were hospitalised with symptoms compatible with pertussis. Of these, 16 had Bordetella pertussis infection confirmed by real-time PCR. For four of these 16 patients, the initial sample was PCR-negative, but samples collected 5-7 days after the onset of infection were PCR-positive. PCR was also positive with samples from 15/16 families and 20/41 household contacts. Nine of the 20 positive household contacts were asymptomatic. Among the 16 infants with proven pertussis, apnoea was more frequent than in a control group for whom PCR was negative with both children and household contacts (69% vs. 28%). It was concluded that real-time PCR performed with samples from household contacts facilitates the diagnosis of infants suspected clinically of having pertussis, thereby enabling earlier treatment.

Keywords: Apnoea; Bordetella pertussis; household contacts; infants; pertussis; real-time PCR

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01616.x

Affiliations: 1: Laboratoire de Bacteriologie 2: Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France

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