Pathogens
Bordetella pertussis

Bordetella pertussis

Precautions

Droplet / Contact Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

  • Strict aerobic Gram-negative coccobacillus or small bacillus.
  • Note: Fastidious, requires special culture media for growth.

Humans are the only known reservoir. Not part of the commensal flora, but asymptomatic transient nasopharynx carriage can occur in outbreak settings.

Global distribution with variable seasonality and increased incidence every 3 to 5 years. Most commonly associated with non-immunized infants, but increasingly found in adolescents and adults.

Pertussis or whooping cough:

  • Classic (catarrhal, paroxysmal, convalescent)
  • Atypical