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Successful control of a pertussis outbreak in a university children's hospital

Crameri, S. and Heininger, U.. (2008) Successful control of a pertussis outbreak in a university children's hospital. International journal of infectious diseases, Vol. 12, no. 6 , e85-87.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5251893

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for acquisition and/or transmission of Bordetella pertussis. We report an outbreak of pertussis in a children's hospital involving three HCWs. DESIGN: Clinical and epidemiological observations. RESULTS: A 62-year-old nurse was suffering from a paroxysmal cough, choking, and significant sleep disturbances of 3 weeks duration; a diagnosis of pertussis was made by PCR. At the time of diagnosis, 25 HCWs working on the same ward as the index case were identified as having been exposed. Of these, seven complained of a current cough illness. PCR was positive for B. pertussis in two of them (both with paroxysmal cough), and they were treated with clarithromycin p.o. Asymptomatic HCWs received postexposure prophylaxis with azithromycin p.o. None of these HCWs, and none of the patients hospitalized on the index case's ward, developed a cough illness during the following 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Pertussis should be suspected in HCWs with prolonged cough illness, and immediate action is required to limit spread of the disease.
Faculties and Departments:03 Faculty of Medicine > Bereich Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (Klinik) > Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (UKBB)
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Klinische Forschung > Bereich Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (Klinik) > Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (UKBB)
03 Faculty of Medicine
UniBasel Contributors:Heininger, Ulrich
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1201-9712
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:08 Nov 2012 16:09
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 13:39

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