BACTERIOLOGY
We are now seeing increases of infection of pertussis disease across the globe regardless of effective vaccination programmes. Access to vaccination and vaccine hesitancy may be the cause of the global increase in pertussis disease
that access to the vaccine is not universal globally, and worryingly that vaccine hesitancy – in those that can make an informed decision – is significantly impacting on those who are unable to choose. Within healthcare we practice in an evidence- and science-based environment. The evidence supporting vaccination for a plethora of diseases is abundant. However, these diseases prevail, causing significant devastation. Furthermore, evidence can be found within the text and pictures in most good microbiology and healthcare textbooks. This overwhelming evidence base should be used to inform and educate the benefits of vaccination, and these benefits far outweigh the minimal clinical risk. We can effectively reduce the burden of pertussis disease and other vaccine preventable diseases; and can possibly eradicate them. We have done it before with smallpox25
and just need to follow the scientific and clinical evidence.
References 1 Public Health England. Investigation of whooping cough. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. B 6 Issue 9 (PHE 2018). https://www.
rcpath.org/static/8c22409a-a2fb-4708- bcf6f0e62e7e41db/UK-SMI-B-6i9-May- 2018-Investigation-of-whooping-cough. pdf
2 Public Health England. Identification of Bordetella species. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. ID 5 Issue 4 (PHE 2020). www.rcpath. org/static/762ddbbd-865b-4788- a3af7703a4ec78d1/d29c055e- 9b55-48af-83c3e700b03eb73b/ uk-smi-id-5i4-identification-of-bordetella- species-august-2020-pdf.pdf
3 Head M. Whooping Cough Is Surging in The UK, And This Could Be Why. (Science Alert 2024)
https://www.sciencealert.com/ whooping-cough-is-surging-in-the-uk-and- this-could-be-why
4 Gopal DP, Barber J, Toeg D. Pertussis (whooping cough). BMJ. 2019 Feb 22; 364:l401. doi:10.1136/bmj.l401
5 Health and Safety Executive. The Approved List of biological agents (HSE
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6 Weston R. Whooping Cough: A Brief History to the 19th Century. Can Bull Med Hist. 2012;29(2):329-349. doi:10.3138/ cbmh.29.2.329
7 Kiple KF, ed. The Cambridge World History of Human Disease. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
8 Houghton A. What is the 100 day cough? UK outbreak explained, including whooping cough symptoms (TimeOut 2024)
https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/ the-uk-is-battling-an-outbreak-of-the-100- day-cough-what-exactly-is-it-021224
9 Galassi FM, Varotto E, Martini M. The history of pertussis: from an ancient scourge to a contemporary health burden. J Prev Med Hyg. 2024 Jan 1; 64(4):E507-E511. doi:10.15167/2421- 4248/jpmh2023.64.4.3163
10 Ruhräh J. GUILLAUME DE BAILLOU (BALLONIUS) 1538-1616. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1928 Dec 1;36(6):1263.
11 Snyder A. Leila Denmark. Lancet. 2012 Jun 23;379:2336. doi:10.1016/S0140- 6736(12)61008-3
12 Calvert A, Amirthalingam G, Andrews N et al. Optimising the timing of whooping cough immunisation in mums (OpTIMUM) through investigating pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: an open-label, equivalence, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Microbe. 2023;4(5):e300-e308. doi:10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00332-9
13 World Health Organization. Pertussis. (WHO).
https://www.who.int/health-topics/ pertussis
14 Smith AM, Guzmán CA, Walker MJ. The virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis: a matter of control. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2001;25(3):309-333. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2001.tb00580.x
15 Baron S, ed. Medical Microbiology: Bordetella. 4th edn. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996.
16 Melvin JA, Scheller EV, Miller JF, Cotter PA. Bordetella pertussis pathogenesis: current and future challenges. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2014;12(4):274-288. doi:10.1038/ nrmicro3235
17 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whooping Cough (Pertussis). (CDC 2024).
https://www.cdc.gov/ pertussis/
index.html
18 Certest. Certest Viasure Real Time PCR Detection Kits: Bordetella multiplex. (Certest 2024).
https://www.certest.es/ products/multiplex-bordetella-qpcr/
19 Adiyaksa J, Tjampakasari CR. Detection of bordetella pertussis the cause of whooping cough: a narrative review. Biomedika. 2024;16(1) doi:10.23917/biomedika. v16i1.2799
20 UK Health Security Agency. Guidance on the management of cases of pertussis in England during the re-emergence of pertussis in 2024. (UKHSA 2024).
https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/pertussis-guidelines-for- public-health-management
21 UK Health Security Agency. Occupational pertussis vaccination of healthcare workers. (UKHSA 2024).
https://www.gov. uk/government/publications/pertussis- occupational-vaccination-of-health- care-workers/occupational-pertussis- vaccination-of-healthcare-workers
22 Wang Y, Shi N, Wang Q, Yang L, Cui T, Jin H. The association between vaccine hesitancy and pertussis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ital J Pediatr. 2023 Jul 13; 49(1):81. doi:10.1186/s13052- 023-01495-8
23 UK Health Security Agency. Confirmed cases of pertussis in England by month. (UKHSA 2024).
https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/pertussis- epidemiology-in-england-2024/confirmed- cases-of-pertussis-in-england-by-month
24 Kilgore PE, Salim AM, Zervos MJ, Schmitt HJ. Pertussis: Microbiology, Disease, Treatment, and Prevention. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2016;29(3):449-486. doi:10.1128/ CMR.00083-15
25 Makri A. After smallpox, can other diseases be eradicated?. Nat Med. 2022;28(9):1726-1729. doi:10.1038/ s41591-022-01914-z
Dr Neil Bentley OBE is an experienced biomedical scientist with over 40 years of science, management, and leadership experience within the field of pathology and public health. In a 25-year career with Public Health England (PHE) he was most recently Deputy Director Pathogen Genomics- COVID Programme until October 2022, previously he was Head of Specialist Microbiology Technical Services at PHE’s National Infection Service. He is currently Scientific Officer at Pro-Lab Diagnostics.
Pro-Lab Diagnostics Certest VIASURE Real Time PCR Detection Kits are available in the UK from Pro-Lab Diagnostics. 0151 353 1613
uksupport@pro-lab.com
www.pro-lab.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2024
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
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