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Usefulness of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis in Assessing Nosocomial Transmission of Pertussis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Michèle Nouvellon*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, France, and the Centre National de Référence des Bordeteiles (CNRB), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Jean-François Gehanno
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, France, and the Centre National de Référence des Bordeteiles (CNRB), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Martine Pestel-Caron
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, France, and the Centre National de Référence des Bordeteiles (CNRB), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Christian Weber
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, France, and the Centre National de Référence des Bordeteiles (CNRB), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Jean-François Lemeland
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, France, and the Centre National de Référence des Bordeteiles (CNRB), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Nicole Guiso
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, France, and the Centre National de Référence des Bordeteiles (CNRB), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
*
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, 76031 Rouen Cedex, France

Abstract

During a 2-week period, three infants with a cough lasting at least 8 days with whoops, were admitted to the pediatric unit; Bordetella pertussis was isolated from nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from the three infants. Approximately 1 week later, a nurse working on the same unit developed influenza-like symptoms followed by whooping cough; B pertussis was isolated. Isolates from the nurse and from one of the infants were shown to be indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These data demonstrate that B pertussis transmission to healthcare workers is possible and emphasize the need to use respiratory protection devices (Droplet Precautions) for healthcare workers having close contact with infected children.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

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