Title page
Contents
About Public Health England 2
Introduction 4
Part 1: Background and rationale 5
1.1. Introduction 5
1.2. History of pertussis control in England and Wales 5
1.3. Surveillance of pertussis 7
1.4. Laboratory confirmation of clinically suspected cases 7
1.5. Rationale for public health action 11
1.6. Use of antibiotics in the treatment and prevention of pertussis 14
1.7. Post-exposure vaccination 17
Part 2: Case definitions, management and investigation of suspected cases of pertussis and their close contacts 21
2.1. Case definition 21
2.2. Recommended details to be recorded when a case is reported 22
2.3. Risk assessment for the index case 23
2.4. Laboratory confirmation and public health action 23
2.5. Case management 25
2.6. Contact management 28
2.7. Special situations 30
Acknowledgements 33
Pertussis Guidelines Group 33
Abbreviations 34
References 35
Appendix 1: PHE Guidelines for the management of cases and close contacts of pertussis 40
Appendix 2: Reporting form for pertussis cases in healthcare workers and clusters in educational settings 41
Appendix 3: Enhanced surveillance form 43
Appendix 4: Oral fluid submission form 45
Appendix 5: Table of quality of evidence for recommendations 46
Table 1. Summary of characteristics of microbiological tests for pertussis 11
Table 2. Recommended antibiotic treatment and post exposure prophylaxis by age group 27