L. Waggonerfountain et Gf. Hayden, PERTUSSIS IN PRIMARY-CARE PRACTICE - RECENT ADVANCES IN DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION, Primary care, 23(4), 1996, pp. 793
Pertussis continues to be an important vaccine-preventable disease. Th
e recent multiple outbreaks of pertussis have heightened interest in i
ts diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Diagnosis remains challenging
, although new diagnostic tests, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay of sera and polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal aspirat
es, offer the possibility of more rapid diagnosis. Erythromycin remain
s the preferred antimicrobial to reduce secondary transmission of pert
ussis. The recent approval of acellular pertussis vaccine for the prim
ary series of immunizations ushers in an exciting new era of pertussis
prevention.