title: Pertussis: Microbiology, Disease, Treatment, and Prevention.
abstract: Pertussis is a severe respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, and in 2008, pertussis was associated with an estimated 16 million cases and 195,000 deaths globally. Sizeable outbreaks of pertussis have been reported over the past 5 years, and disease reemergence has been the focus of international attention to develop a deeper understanding of pathogen virulence and genetic evolution of B. pertussis strains. During the past 20 years, the scientific community has recognized pertussis among adults as well as infants and children. Increased recognition that older children and adolescents are at risk for disease and may transmit B. pertussis to younger siblings has underscored the need to better understand the role of innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immunity, including the role of waning immunity. Although recognition of adult pertussis has increased in tandem with a better understanding of B. pertussis pathogenesis, pertussis in neonates and adults can manifest with atypical clinical presentations. Such disease patterns make pertussis recognition difficult and lead to delays in treatment. Ongoing research using newer tools for molecular analysis holds promise for improved understanding of pertussis epidemiology, bacterial pathogenesis, bioinformatics, and immunology. Together, these advances provide a foundation for the development of new-generation diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum Collage of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA paul.kilgore@wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3214-4482
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kilgore
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Eugene Applebaum Collage of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Abdulbaset M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salim
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System and Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zervos
authors.affiliation: Medical and Scientific Affairs, Pfizer Vaccines, Paris, France Department of Pediatrics, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-Josef
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schmitt
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*