Detection of Bordetella pertussis using a PCR test in infants younger than one year old hospitalized with whooping cough in five Peruvian hospitals

• Main Authors: María Esther Castillo, Carlos Bada, Olguita del Aguila, Verónica Petrozzi-Helasvuo, Verónica Casabona-Ore, Isabel Reyes, Juana del Valle-Mendoza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Bordetella pertussis; Whooping cough; PCR; Peru
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971215002544

Objectives: To report the incidence, epidemiology, and clinical features of Bordetella pertussis in Peruvian infants under 1 year old. Patients and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in five hospitals in Peru from January 2010 to July 2012. A total of 392 infants under 1 year old were admitted with a clinical diagnosis of whooping cough and tested for B. pertussis by PCR. Results: The pertussis toxin and IS481 genes were detected in 39.54% (155/392) of the cases. Infants aged less than 3 months were the most affected, with a prevalence of 73.55% (114/155). The most common household contact was the mother, identified in 20% (31/155) of cases. Paroxysm of coughing (89.03%, 138/155), cyanosis (68.39%, 106/155), respiratory distress (67.09%, 104/155), and breastfeeding difficulties (39.35%, 61/155) were the most frequent symptoms reported. Conclusion: An increase in pertussis cases has been reported in recent years in Peru, despite national immunization efforts. Surveillance with PCR for B. pertussis is essential, especially in infants less than 1 year old, in whom a higher rate of disease-related complications and higher mortality have been reported.