[Routine use of gene amplification for pertussis diagnosis in children]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Whooping cough (pertussis) resurgence in France necessitates improved diagnostic methods.
• Traditional culture methods for B. pertussis are time-consuming and have lower sensitivity.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) offers a potential alternative for rapid and accurate detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic value of a specific PCR assay for B. pertussis in nasopharyngeal secretions.
• To compare the performance of PCR with standard culture methods in a routine clinical setting.
• To assess the utility of PCR in diagnosing whooping cough during outbreaks.

Main Methods:

• Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children with suspected whooping cough.
• Bordetella pertussis detection was performed using both culture and a specific PCR assay.
• Clinical, biological, and radiological data were collected via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• PCR detected B. pertussis in 93.3% of suspected cases, with results in 48 hours.
• Culture confirmed B. pertussis in 61.2% of cases, with results in six days.
• PCR alone identified 57.8% of cases, while 35.5% were positive by both methods.

Conclusions:

• PCR is a sensitive, specific, and rapid tool for diagnosing whooping cough.
• Combining PCR with culture is crucial for monitoring B. pertussis epidemiology and antibiotic resistance.
• The PCR assay demonstrated significant value in the routine diagnosis of pertussis.