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

N S W Public Health Bull. 2008 Sep-Oct;19(9-10):157-60. doi: 10.1071/nb07054.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Male
  • New South Wales / epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Whooping Cough / diagnosis
  • Whooping Cough / epidemiology*
  • Whooping Cough / microbiology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A