Bordetella pertussis infection in paediatric healthcare workers

Summary An increased incidence of pertussis has been observed recently in adults, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered a risk group for transmission to infants. Prevalence of recent pertussis infection was assessed in HCWs from a paediatric department of a tertiary care hospital in Brazil. Serum pertussis toxin IgG antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 388 HCWs included in the analysis, 6.4% had serology suggestive of recent infection. Medical residents [odds ratio (OR): 4.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42–12.14; P = 0.009] and those working >40h a week (OR: 3.29; 95% CI: 1.17–9.26; P = 0.024) had increased risk of pertussis infection.