Molecular Typing of Bordetella pertussis Isolates Recovered from Belgian Children and Their Household Members

Recently, a moderate increase in the prevalence of pertussis, possibly contracted from adults, has been observed among unvaccinated children. During a 3-year period, we prospectively enrolled 93 index patients with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or culture result positive for Bordetella pertussis. Among 63 household contacts of 28 index patients, PCR and culture for B. pertussis identified 25 B. pertussis -positive persons. Nineteen of 25 B. pertussis -positive household contacts were asymptomatic. Isolates were available from 10 families of both index patients and household contacts fo... Mehr ...