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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
[Prevention of whooping-cough cross transmission in maternity hospital]
Sophie Moreau-Crépeaux1, Karine Wyndels, Mickaël Tachon
1Cellule de l'institut de veille sanitaire en région du Nord, Cire Nord, ARS Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 59000 Lille, France.
Introduction:
Reports of pertussis have been increasing since 2008 in North of France. A large part of reported cases involved healthcare workers (HCWs) in nurseries and maternity hospitals. The objective of this study was to determine HCWs' knowledge regarding pertussis and its cross-transmission in the maternity hospitals in North of France.
Methods:
This study was conducted in the 38 maternity hospitals set in North of France. Head midwives and nurses, infection control teams and occupational health practitioners were asked through a self-administered questionnaire survey to assess there knowledge regarding pertussis: vaccination, diagnosis, cross-transmission control.
Results:
36 on the 38 maternity hospitals' staffs returned the survey. Most of the respondents viewed pertussis as a serious and highly transmissible illness but 30% of them considered it a paediatric illness. Only a minority of the participants knew the last recommendations for pertussis vaccination in HCWs (37%) and in adults (16%). Only a few maternity hospitals staffs have set a formal organization to prevent and control pertussis cross-transmission.
Conclusion:
Awareness about pertussis vaccination and its cross-transmission control needs to be increased among maternity hospital staffs. A close liaison between HCWs, occupational health, infection control teams and biologists is necessary to prepare operational procedures to control pertussis cross transmission.
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