Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
11:32
Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
[Pertussis outbreak in a poorly immunized community]
Javier Segura del Pozo1, Juan Carlos Sanz Moreno, María Jesús Gascón Sancho
1Servicio de Salud Pública del Area III. Consejería de Sanidad. Comunidad de Madrid. Alcalá de Henares. Madrid. Spain. javier.segura@madrid.org
Medicina Clinica
|November 16, 2002
Summary
An outbreak of pertussis occurred in an under-vaccinated Gypsy community. Serological testing confirmed Bordetella pertussis as the cause, highlighting risks from incorrect vaccination in susceptible populations.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pertussis outbreaks can occur in communities with insufficient vaccination coverage.
- Identifying clinical, serological, and epidemiological features is crucial for understanding disease spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a pertussis outbreak within an under-vaccinated Gypsy community.
- To describe the clinical, serological, and epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Active case finding identified ten individuals with pertussis symptoms.
- Paired serum samples were analyzed for IgG and IgA against Bordetella pertussis antigens, including pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA).
- Seroconversion was used as a diagnostic criterion, with logistic regression analyzing risk factors.
Main Results:
- The highest attack rate was observed in children aged 5-9 years.
- Vaccination status varied, with 30% unvaccinated and 50% incorrectly vaccinated among cases.
- Serological evidence of Bordetella pertussis infection was confirmed in several cases.
Conclusions:
- Despite high overall pertussis vaccine coverage, pockets of susceptible populations exist due to incomplete or incorrect vaccination.
- Serological findings strongly support Bordetella pertussis as the causative agent of this outbreak.
- Targeted vaccination strategies are needed for under-vaccinated communities.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
Overview
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
01:28Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
01:24Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.