Bordetella pertussis
One-Sentence Definition
Bordetella pertussis is a fastidious Gram-negative coccobacillus that causes whooping cough (pertussis) via adhesins and toxins, prevented primarily by vaccination but still causing outbreaks in incompletely immune populations.
Taxonomy & Morphology
- Alcaligenaceae; small coccobacilli; strict human pathogen
- Related: B. parapertussis, B. holmesii — pertussis-like illness
- Fastidious: Regan-Lowe / Bordet-Gengou media historically; now NAAT-first
Virulence Highlights
- Pertussis toxin (PT) — ADP-ribosylating AB toxin; systemic effects
- Filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, fimbriae — adhesion
- Adenylate cyclase toxin, tracheal cytotoxin — local airway damage
- Antigenic change (e.g., pertactin-deficient isolates) under vaccine pressure
Clinical Syndromes
- Catarrhal → paroxysmal cough ± inspiratory whoop / post-tussive emesis
- Infants: apnea, severe disease, death risk — partial immunization gap
- Adolescents/adults: prolonged cough, often underdiagnosed; reservoirs for infants
Diagnosis
- PCR / NAAT on nasopharyngeal specimen — preferred
- Culture difficult, sensitive mainly early; serology for late presentation in some settings
- Notify public health for contact management
Treatment Notes (conceptual)
- Macrolides (azithromycin) — early therapy reduces transmission; limited effect once paroxysmal stage established
- Post-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk contacts per guidelines
- Supportive care for infants; hospitalization criteria
AMR
- Macrolide resistance uncommon in many regions but reported — monitor if failure
- Not an MDR hospital ESKAPE problem; prevention is vaccine + IPC in outbreaks
Genomics & Computational Notes
- Vaccine antigen allele shifts tracked by WGS (Phylodynamics)
- Outbreak typing in schools/healthcare
- Links to Vaccination and AI for Vaccine Design teaching examples
Related Notes
- Vaccination · Haemophilus influenzae · Mycoplasma pneumoniae · Infection Prevention and Control
- MOCs: MOC - Bacteriology · MOC - Public Health & Epidemiology · MOC - Clinical Microbiology
Active Recall
- Which toxin is unique/central to classic pertussis systemic biology?
- Why vaccinate adults/adolescents around newborns (cocooning / pregnancy doses)?
- Preferred diagnostic method in routine practice?