OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to analyze pertussis epidemiology in Tunisia by studying nasopharyngeal specimens of infants hospitalized in Tunis. METHODS: Between march 2007 and march 2008, clinical nasopharyngeal samples were collected from infants with a suspected diagnosis of whooping cough, pertussoid cough, or pertussis-like syndrome, admitted at the Tunis children's hospital. The laboratory diagnostic criteria were culture isolation of Bordetella species on Bordet-Gengou medium and real-time PCR. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of the 74 investigated children with suspected pertussis were less than two months of age. The diagnosis of pertussis was proved positive by real-time PCR for 41%. Culture was negative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Whooping cough is still prevalent in Tunisia despite an important vaccination coverage. Real-time PCR is an invaluable tool for the rapid diagnosis of pertussis, however culture must also be associated.
OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to analyze pertussis epidemiology in Tunisia by studying nasopharyngeal specimens of infants hospitalized in Tunis. METHODS: Between march 2007 and march 2008, clinical nasopharyngeal samples were collected from infants with a suspected diagnosis of whooping cough, pertussoid cough, or pertussis-like syndrome, admitted at the Tunis children's hospital. The laboratory diagnostic criteria were culture isolation of Bordetella species on Bordet-Gengou medium and real-time PCR. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of the 74 investigated children with suspected pertussis were less than two months of age. The diagnosis of pertussis was proved positive by real-time PCR for 41%. Culture was negative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Whooping cough is still prevalent in Tunisia despite an important vaccination coverage. Real-time PCR is an invaluable tool for the rapid diagnosis of pertussis, however culture must also be associated.
Authors: A Zouari; A Touati; H Smaoui; D Brun; K Kasdaghli; K Menif; N Ben Jaballah; E Ben Hassen; N Guiso; A Kechrid Journal: Infection Date: 2011-08-23 Impact factor: 3.553