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[Adult pertussis poses a severe risk for infants]

Ellen Bamberger1, Gilad Spiegel, David Greenberg

  • 1The Pediatric Department and Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Bnai Zion Medical Center.

Harefuah
|December 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Parental transmission of Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) is a risk to infants in Israel. Implementing infection control and screening parents can prevent infant pertussis cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Context:

  • Rising Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) incidence in adolescents and adults in Israel.
  • Infants face the highest risk of pertussis complications and mortality.
  • Hospital settings present potential transmission pathways.

Purpose:

  • To report cases of likely parent-to-infant pertussis transmission in Israeli hospitals.
  • To highlight the importance of considering adult and adolescent carriers in infant pertussis epidemiology.
  • To evaluate the risk of nosocomial pertussis transmission from caregivers.

Summary:

  • Four cases of probable pertussis transmission from parents to their infants occurred in two Israeli hospitals.
  • The findings suggest that healthcare facilities should be vigilant for pertussis in caregivers of infants.
  • Adults and adolescents may serve as reservoirs for Bordetella pertussis, posing a threat to vulnerable infants.

Impact:

  • Recommends enhanced infection control measures in healthcare settings to prevent pertussis spread.
  • Suggests targeted screening of parents and caregivers for pertussis symptoms.
  • Aims to reduce infant morbidity and mortality associated with Bordetella pertussis.

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