Bordetella pertussis, a reemerging pathogen in pediatric respiratory infections. A study in Quito, Ecuador

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains a global public health issue despite high vaccination rates.
• Bordetella parapertussis causes similar symptoms, making clinical differentiation difficult.
• Infants under one year are particularly vulnerable to severe pertussis complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis infections in infants under one year of age in the Ecuadorian highlands.
• To correlate infection data with sociodemographic and clinical information.
• To assess the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosing Bordetella infections.

Main Methods:

• Collection of 86 nasopharyngeal swab samples from infants (0-12 months) with suspected whooping cough.
• Microbiological culture and molecular analyses, including PCR, for bacterial identification.
• Statistical analysis to correlate findings with clinical and demographic data.

Main Results:

• Bordetella pertussis was detected by PCR in 41% (30/86) of the samples.
• Over half of the positive B. pertussis cases were in infants aged 0-3 months.
• A significant correlation was found between bacterial culture identification and the catarrhal stage of the disease (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Bordetella pertussis is a significant cause of suspected whooping cough in infants in the Ecuadorian highlands.
• Early-onset infections (0-3 months) are prevalent, emphasizing the vulnerability of young infants.
• Enhanced national surveillance and sensitive laboratory diagnostic methods are crucial for effective pertussis control.