Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany

Abstract Background After the introduction of a vaccine against B. pertussis the seasonal pattern with the highest number of infections in the spring to summer months changed. Recent studies from around the world suggest that B. pertussis infections again follow a seasonal pattern with increased inc...

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Main Authors: Daniel Allermann Hitz, Friedemann Tewald, Maren Eggers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-07-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-020-05199-w
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author Daniel Allermann Hitz
Friedemann Tewald
Maren Eggers
author_facet Daniel Allermann Hitz
Friedemann Tewald
Maren Eggers
author_sort Daniel Allermann Hitz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background After the introduction of a vaccine against B. pertussis the seasonal pattern with the highest number of infections in the spring to summer months changed. Recent studies from around the world suggest that B. pertussis infections again follow a seasonal pattern with increased incidence in summer.The aim of this study was to investigate whether respiratory infections caused by B. pertussis in the period from January 2008 to December 2018 also seasonally spread in Germany and if so, when the B. pertussis activity peaked. Methods We tested 19,031 samples, mainly from Southern Germany, collected in the period from January 2008 to December 2018 using a Multiplex PCR assay. We assessed the number and proportion of samples positive for B. pertussis, stratified by patient’s age and month. The seasonal distribution was investigated by plotting the average proportion of positive samples for each month. Results We observed a B. pertussis seasonality with the highest number of positive samples in the months from June until September. In contrast, testing of samples for B. pertussis was requested most frequently in the period from October until March. The proportion of positive samples increased earlier in adolescents (age 10 to 19) than in other age groups. Conclusions We found a seasonality of B. pertussis infections in Germany, which differs from the time when most samples are sent in for testing of B. pertussis. Our study suggests that clinicians should be more aware of B. pertussis infections in the months from June until September to prevent further transmission to vulnerable family members.
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spelling doaj.art-4939a7623c044fc9a1cac49a499822842022-12-22T00:09:47ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342020-07-012011610.1186/s12879-020-05199-wSeasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in GermanyDaniel Allermann Hitz0Friedemann Tewald1Maren Eggers2Laboratory Prof. Gisela Enders and colleagues, MVZLaboratory Prof. Gisela Enders and colleagues, MVZLaboratory Prof. Gisela Enders and colleagues, MVZAbstract Background After the introduction of a vaccine against B. pertussis the seasonal pattern with the highest number of infections in the spring to summer months changed. Recent studies from around the world suggest that B. pertussis infections again follow a seasonal pattern with increased incidence in summer.The aim of this study was to investigate whether respiratory infections caused by B. pertussis in the period from January 2008 to December 2018 also seasonally spread in Germany and if so, when the B. pertussis activity peaked. Methods We tested 19,031 samples, mainly from Southern Germany, collected in the period from January 2008 to December 2018 using a Multiplex PCR assay. We assessed the number and proportion of samples positive for B. pertussis, stratified by patient’s age and month. The seasonal distribution was investigated by plotting the average proportion of positive samples for each month. Results We observed a B. pertussis seasonality with the highest number of positive samples in the months from June until September. In contrast, testing of samples for B. pertussis was requested most frequently in the period from October until March. The proportion of positive samples increased earlier in adolescents (age 10 to 19) than in other age groups. Conclusions We found a seasonality of B. pertussis infections in Germany, which differs from the time when most samples are sent in for testing of B. pertussis. Our study suggests that clinicians should be more aware of B. pertussis infections in the months from June until September to prevent further transmission to vulnerable family members.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-020-05199-wPertussisWhooping coughSeasonalityGermany
spellingShingle Daniel Allermann Hitz
Friedemann Tewald
Maren Eggers
Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany
BMC Infectious Diseases
Pertussis
Whooping cough
Seasonality
Germany
title Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany
title_full Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany
title_fullStr Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany
title_short Seasonal Bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in Germany
title_sort seasonal bordetella pertussis pattern in the period from 2008 to 2018 in germany
topic Pertussis
Whooping cough
Seasonality
Germany
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-020-05199-w
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AT friedemanntewald seasonalbordetellapertussispatternintheperiodfrom2008to2018ingermany
AT mareneggers seasonalbordetellapertussispatternintheperiodfrom2008to2018ingermany