Open AccessReal-Time PCR Measurement of Persistence of Bordetella pertussis DNA in Nasopharyngeal Secretions during Antibiotic Treatment of Young Children with Pertussis
Author(s) -
Philippe Bidet,
Sandrine Liguori,
Agathe de Lauzanne,
Valérie Caro,
Mathie Lorrot,
Agnès Carol,
Albert Faye,
Nicole Guiso,
Édouard Bingen,
Stéphane Bonacorsi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.01308-08
Subject(s) - bordetella pertussis , persistence (discontinuity) , whooping cough , microbiology and biotechnology , antibiotics , medicine , polymerase chain reaction , virology , biology , bacteria , gene , genetics , vaccination , geotechnical engineering , engineering
We used real-time PCR to examine the persistence ofBordetella pertussis DNA in serial nasopharyngeal aspirates from 22 children treated for pertussis. After 5 days of treatment, PCR was positive for all 21 assessable patients. After 14 and 21 days, PCR was still positive for 83% (10/12) and 66% (4/6) of assessable patients, respectively. One patient was tested 1 month after treatment initiation, andB. pertussis DNA was still detectable. Quantitative analysis showed that the DNA concentration diminished during treatment in all except one case. The PCR cycle threshold at whichB. pertussis DNA became detectable increased by a mean of 1.7 cycles per day (range, 0.86 to 3.68 cycles per day). Real-time PCR can thus be used to diagnose pertussis in young children for up to 3 weeks after treatment initiation. Its potential value for assessing the treatment outcome remains to be determined.