Bordetella Pertussis

Bordetella pertussis

Background:

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Gram-Negative Cocci & Coccobacilli
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>Aggregatibacter aphrophilus (formally known as Haemophilus aphrophilus)
>Bordetella pertussis (Causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough. )

>Brucella species:
     1] Brucella abortus
     2] Brucella canis
     3] Brucella melitensis
     4] Brucella suis
>Eikenella corrodens
>Haemophilus species:
     1] Haemophilus influenzae
     2] Haemophilus ducreyi
     3] Haemophilus avium
>Moraxella catarrhalis (formerly known as Branhamella catarrhalis)
>Neisseria species: (frequently colonize mucosal surfaces.)
     1] Neisseria gonorrhoeae
     2] Neisseria meningitidis
>Pasteurella multocida

Bordetella pertussis:

Gram-negative, nonmotile, aerobic coccobacillus capsulate of the genus Bordetella, and the causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough.
Virulence factors include pertussis toxin, filamentous hæmagglutinin, pertactin, fimbria, and tracheal cytotoxin. Humans are its only host.
Spread by airborne droplets; its incubation period is seven to 14 days.
Pertussis: infection of the respiratory system characterized by a “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. In the US, it killed between 10,000 and 20,000 people per year before a vaccine was available.
Bordetella pertussis infects its host by colonizing lung epithelial cells.
The bacterium contains a surface protein, filamentous haemagglutinin adhesin, which binds to the sulfatides found on cilia of epithelial cells.

Therapy:

Important considerations: The choice of an agent should be based on local antimicrobial sensitivities, site of infection, cost, and comorbid conditions. Generally, the most common agents/regimens are listed first. Listed dosages may need to be adjusted for renal dysfunction.

Azithromycin 500mg orally x 1 then 250mg once daily for 4 days
Clarithromycin 500mg po q12h or Biaxin XL ®: 1000mg po qd x 7 days
Bactrim DS (TMP-SMX) 160/800mg po bid x 14 days. Mild-moderate infection: 5 to 10 mg/kg/day (based on trimethoprim component) IV/oral divided in 2-4 doses.