Pertussis in young infants: apnoea and intra-familial infection.
This study investigated 41 infants, aged <4 months, who were hospitalised with symptoms compatible with pertussis. Of these, 16 had Bordetella pertussis infection confirmed by real-time PCR. For four of these 16 patients, the initial sample was PCR-negative, but samples collected 5-7 days after the onset of infection were PCR-positive. PCR was also positive with samples from 15/16 families and 20/41 household contacts. Nine of the 20 positive household contacts were asymptomatic. Among the 16 infants with proven pertussis, apnoea was more frequent than in a control group for whom PCR was negative with both children and household contacts (69% vs. 28%). It was concluded that real-time PCR performed with samples from household contacts facilitates the diagnosis of infants suspected clinically of having pertussis, thereby enabling earlier treatment.
Raymond
J
J
Laboratoire de Bacteriologie, Paris, France. Electronic address: j.raymond@svp.ap-hop-paris.fr.
Armengaud
J-B
JB
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Cosnes-Lambe
C
C
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Chalumeau
M
M
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Bosdure
E
E
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Reglier-Poupet
H
H
Laboratoire de Bacteriologie, Paris, France.
El Hajje
M-J
MJ
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Iniguez
J-L
JL
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Moulin
F
F
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
Poyart
C
C
Laboratoire de Bacteriologie, Paris, France.
Gendrel
D
D
Service de Pédiatrie Générale et Laboratoire d'Épidémiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Université Paris 5, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul-Cochin, Paris, France.
D001049:Apnea / Q000382:microbiology*; D001885:Bordetella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000382:microbiology*