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Predictors of Pertussis Polymerase Chain Reaction Positive Results in Minnesota, 2005-2009

Melissa McMahon1, Shalini Kulasingam, Cynthia Kenyon

  • 1From the *Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota; and †Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|July 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Reported exposure to pertussis and timely testing within two weeks were key predictors of a positive PCR test. This highlights the importance of epidemiological factors and prompt testing for pertussis diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Pertussis remains a significant public health concern, necessitating accurate and timely diagnostic methods.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive tool for pertussis detection, but understanding factors influencing its positivity is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify predictors of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity for pertussis.
  • To assess the impact of epidemiological factors and testing timelines on PCR results.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of active surveillance data from Minnesota.
  • Statistical assessment of factors associated with PCR positivity for pertussis.

Main Results:

  • A reported exposure to pertussis was significantly associated with a positive PCR test.
  • Testing within the optimal timeframe of ≤2 weeks after exposure also showed a significant association with PCR positivity.

Conclusions:

  • Epidemiological factors, particularly known exposure, are important considerations in pertussis assessment.
  • Timely PCR testing is critical for maximizing the diagnostic yield in suspected pertussis cases.

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