Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Question 1

What is the causative organism for Pertussis (Whooping Cough)?

Answer 1

Bordetella pertussis

Question 2

What form of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) is Bordetella pertussis?

Answer 2

Bacterial, gram-negative

Question 3

What are the most common modes of transmission for Pertussis (Whooping Cough) {Bordetella pertussis}?

Answer 3

Droplet contact

Question 4

What are the virulence factors for Pertussis (Whooping Cough) {Bordetella pertussis}?

Answer 4

FHS (adhesion), pertussis toxin and tracheal cytotoxin, endotoxin

Question 5

How do you culture/diagnose Pertussis (Whooping Cough) {Bordetella pertussis}?

Answer 5

PCR or growth on B-G, charcoal, or potato-glycerol agar; diagnosis can be made on symptoms

Question 6

How do you prevent Pertussis (Whooping Cough) {Bordetella pertussis}?

Answer 6

Acellular vaccine (DTaP), azithromycin for contacts

Question 7

How do you treat Pertussis (Whooping Cough) {Bordetella pertussis}?

Answer 7

Azithrromycin

Question 8

What are the epidemiological features of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) {Bordetella pertussis}?

Answer 8

United States: 19,000 cases in 2017, 14,000 in 2018; internationally; hundreds of million of cases annually