Abstract
The clinical significance of pertussis infection is underestimated in Japan, so no infection control plan for nosocomial pertussis infection has been established. Our hospital experienced several episodes of nosocomial pertussis exposure, so an infection control plan for pertussis was developed according to the CDC guidelines including surveillance with classifying contacts and chemoprophylaxis. Here we describe our infection control plan and experience with infection control for exposed patients. In addition, the incidence of pertussis infection in adults was examined using agglutinating titers for pertussis in patients with chronic cough. The study found that 23% of patients had suspected pertussis infection. The clinical significance of nosocomial pertussis infection is important to recognize, and early diagnostic methods and criteria for the diagnosis of pertussis should be established to efficiently prevent nosocomial infection.
