title: Evidence of pertussis clusters in three aged-care facilities in the former Macquarie Area Health Service, NSW.
abstract: During a limited outbreak of pertussis in an area health service in NSW, three clusters occurred in aged-care facilities--the first reported outbreaks of pertussis in Australian nursing homes. The attack rates across the three clusters were 16.7% for staff and 15.7% for residents. Our investigation revealed that older adults are not immune to pertussis. We suggest methods for controlling a pertussis outbreak in an aged-care facility.
authors.affiliation: Population Health Division, Greater Western Area Health Service.
authors.forename: Ala'a
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Murieb
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raulli
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gander
authors.forename: Patsy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Sharwyn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A