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Challenges associated with pertussis detection, monitoring, and vaccination in adults
1Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA.
Insights
Pertussis remains a significant global health threat, especially for children. Controlling pertussis in adults requires better surveillance, improved vaccines, and increased adult vaccination efforts.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) is a severe, potentially fatal respiratory illness, particularly impacting young children.
- Global pertussis control is suboptimal, with 19.5 million cases reported in 2019.
- Transitioning to acellular pertussis vaccines has led to increased incidence in adolescents and adults, with older adults and those with chronic conditions facing higher risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review diagnostic, surveillance, and vaccination challenges in controlling adult pertussis.
- To highlight the need for enhanced strategies to manage pertussis in the adult population.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
- Searches included PubMed/Medline and clinicaltrials.gov databases.
- Evidence on diagnostic, surveillance, and vaccination challenges was synthesized.
Main Results:
- The true burden of pertussis in adults is largely unknown due to limited data.
- Current surveillance systems and diagnostic capabilities for adult pertussis are insufficient.
- Existing pertussis vaccines may not provide long-lasting immunity or effectively block transmission.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced surveillance and increased awareness of pertussis in adults are crucial globally.
- Development of improved pertussis vaccines offering longer immunity and transmission blocking is needed.
- Increased adult pertussis vaccination coverage is essential for effective disease control.
Introduction:
Pertussis is a severe and potentially life-threatening disease, particularly for young children. Pertussis can have severe complications, including pneumonia, apnea, encephalopathy, rib fractures, and death, and globally, it is not well controlled. In 2019, there were 19.5 million cases of pertussis worldwide. Countries that transitioned from whole cell to acellular pertussis vaccine programs have reported increasing incidence of pertussis in adolescents and adults. Older adults and adults with chronic health conditions are more likely to experience severe pertussis-related illness.
Areas Covered:
This review presents a summary of the evidence documenting diagnostic, surveillance, and vaccination challenges to controlling pertussis in adults. Searches of PubMed/Medline and clinicaltrials.gov were used to inform this review.
Expert Opinion:
Based on the limited data available to document the burden of pertussis in adults, the true burden of disease in this population remains unknown. There is therefore a need for (1) stronger surveillance and increased awareness of pertussis in adults in high-income and low- and middle-income countries; (2) improved pertussis vaccines that can provide longer-lasting immunity and/or block transmission; and (3) enhanced efforts to increase pertussis vaccination in adults.
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