Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the pathogen detection efficiency of the method based on Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis)-specific enrichment combined with charcoal blood agar culture ("new culture method") in the surveillance of pertussis in children in a district of Beijing, and analyze the drug resistance characteristics of the isolates and the distribution of the cases.
Methods Nasopharyngeal swab s were collected from suspected pertussis cases aged ≤18 years in a district of Beijing between January 2023 and December 2024. Fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the new culture method were used for B. pertussis detection. The results of the two detection methods were compared by using Kappa test. Drug susceptibility testing of the isolated strains was conducted by using E-test. Statistical analysis was performed on the monthly and age distributions of laboratory confirmed pertussis cases.
Results A total of 186 suspected pertussis cases were collected, in which 76 were laboratory confirmed by fluorescent PCR and/or the new culture method. The laboratory confirmation rate was 40.86% (76/186). The detection rates of fluorescent PCR and the new culture method were 38.71% (72/186) and 27.42% (51/186), respectively. The consistency test between the two detection methods showed strong consistency (Kappa value = 0.653, P<0.001). In the laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases, the cases aged 6-11 years accounted for the highest proportion (55.26%, 42/76). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin to the 51 isolated B. pertussis strains all exceeded the maximum test concentrations, i.e. >1024 mg/L, >256 mg/L, >256 mg/L, and >256 mg/L, respectively.
Conclusion The new culture method showed good isolation efficiency for B. pertussis. The isolated B. pertussis strains showed high resistance levels to sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin. Children aged 6–11 years and those who have not completed the basic pertussis immunization are key populations for pertussis prevention and control. More efforts are needed to establish a systematic and continuous surveillance system for pertussis.