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Nosocomial acquisition of pertussis diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction
1Division of Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|November 14, 1997
Abstract:
Awareness is growing of the role of pertussis infection among adolescents and adults, and of the possibility of nosocomial transmission. However, pertussis remains difficult to diagnose. We report a case of nosocomially acquired pertussis in a healthcare worker, diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction. The high sensitivity and rapid turnaround time for this test is useful to confirm the diagnosis when advising a healthcare worker to refrain from working.