Pertussis Pseudo-outbreak Linked to Specimens Contaminated by Bordetella pertussis DNA From Clinic Surfaces

Abstract

A summer pertussis pseudo-outbreak, multifactorial in cause, likely occurred. Recommendations beyond standard practice were made to providers on specimen collection and environmental cleaning, and to laboratories on standardizing PCR protocols and reporting results, to minimize false-positive results from contaminated clinical specimens.

Evaluation of a Multitarget Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection of Bordetella Species during a Pertussis Outbreak in New Hampshire in 2011

“…While PCR assays are fast and highly sensitive, their specificity varies from laboratory to laboratory because of variation in PCR protocols, amplification platforms, and reagents used in different laboratories (5). Additionally, pseudooutbreaks of pertussis have been reported because of false-positive single-target PCR results (6,7). In order to overcome these challenges, we adopted a real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay with multiple targets to differentiate B. pertussis from B. holmesii, B. parapertussis, and B. bronchiseptica (8).…”

High frequency of pertussis in older children and adolescents with prolonged cough in Turkey

“…In the present study, IS481 PCR assay was performed for diagnosis of pertussis in vaccinated children and adolescents with a cough of two to four weeks' duration. However, disadvantages to PCR include its relatively high cost, more limited availability, and the potential for false-negative or false-positive results 32,33 .…”

Harmonization of Bordetella pertussis Real-Time PCR Diagnostics in the United States in 2012

“…It is important to have accurate species-level diagnostics of pertussis and pertussis-like infections for public health response, vaccine efficacy, and epidemiological studies (11). Inclusion of additional targets such as ptxS1 in pertussis PCR diagnostics is important to avoid misidentification of B. holmesii as B. pertussis, to prevent other false-positive results, and to detect the rare coinfection with B. pertussis and a second Bordetella species (12)(13)(14).…”