Evidence of pertussis clusters in three aged-care facilities in the former Macquarie Area Health Service, NSW

Ala’a Al-Murieb; Anthony M. Brown; Alexandra Raulli; Carol George; Carole Gander; Patsy Forrester; Sharwyn Gibson

doi:10.1071/NB07054

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Evidence of pertussis clusters in three aged-care facilities in the former Macquarie Area Health Service, NSW

Ala’a Al-Murieb ^A , Anthony M. Brown ^A ^B , Alexandra Raulli ^A , Carol George ^A , Carole Gander ^A , Patsy Forrester ^A and Sharwyn Gibson ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Population Health Division, Greater Western Area Health Service

^B Corresponding author. Email: tony.brown@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(10) 157-160 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07054
Published: 21 November 2008

Abstract

During a limited outbreak of pertussis in an area health service in NSW, three clusters occurred in aged-care facilities – the first reported outbreaks of pertussis in Australian nursing homes. The attack rates across the three clusters were 16.7% for staff and 15.7% for residents. Our investigation revealed that older adults are not immune to pertussis. We suggest methods for controlling a pertussis outbreak in an aged-care facility.

References

[1] Brotherton J, McAnulty J. A Pertussis epidemic in NSW: How epidemiology reflects vaccination policy. N S W Public Health Bull 2003; 14 77–81.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[2] Hodder SL, Cherry JD, Mortimer EA, Ford AB, Gornbein J, Papp K. Antibody responses to Bordetella pertussis antigens and clinical correlations in elderly community residents. Clin Infect Dis 2000; 31(1): 7–14.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | CAS | PubMed |

[3] Guy RJ, Di Natale R, Kelly H, Lambert SB, Tobin S, Robinson PM, et al. Influenza outbreaks in aged-care facilities: staff vaccination and the emerging use of antiviral therapy. Med J Aust 2004; 180(12): 640–2.
| PubMed |

[4] Bush KA, McAnulty J, McPhie K, Reynolds R, Boomer M, Clarkson LM, et al. Southern New South Wales Public Health Unit. Antiviral prophylaxis in the management of an influenza outbreak in an aged care facility. Commun Dis Intell 2004; 28(3): 396–400.
| PubMed |

[5] Addiss DG, Davis JP, Meade BD, Burstyn DG, Meissner M, Zastrow JA, et al. A pertussis outbreak in a Wisconsin nursing home. J Infect Dis 1991; 164(4): 704–10.
| CAS | PubMed |

[6] Tomoda T, Ogura H, Kurashige T. The longevity of the immune response to filamentous hemagglutinin and pertussis toxin in patients with pertussis in a semiclosed community. J Infect Dis 1992; 166(4): 908–10.
| CAS | PubMed |

[7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks of pertussis associated with hospitals: Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Oregon, 2003. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005; 54: 67–71.

[8] Tanaka Y, Fujinaga K, Goto A, Iwai H, Aoyama T, Murase Y, et al. Outbreak of pertussis in a residential facility for handicapped people. Dev Biol Stand 1991; 73 329–32.
| CAS | PubMed |

[9] Partiarca PA, Steketee RW, Biellik RJ, Wassilak SG, Brink EW, Burstyn DG, et al. Outbreaks of pertussis in the United States: the Wisconsin experience. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 1988; 13(Suppl.): 117–23.
| PubMed |

[10] NSW Health. Occupational screening and vaccination against infectious diseases. NSW Health Circular 2003/91. NSW Health: Sydney; 2003.

[11] Heininger U, Cherry JD, Stehr K. Serologic response and antibody-titer decay in adults with pertussis. Clin Infect Dis 2004; 38(4): 591–4.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |