RAPID AND SENSITIVE DIAGNOSIS OF WHOOPING -COUGH BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether the applicatio n of the polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of whooping cough would result in essential advantages when compared to traditional dete ction methods, in particular in an increase of sensitivity and in a sh ortening of the diagnostical time span, Methods: PCR and culture of Bo rdetella pertussis were compared with each other by examination of 201 nasopharyngeal swabs, and the results were related to the respective clinical findings. Results: Though not all of the clinical data were a vailable, we could show that diagnosis of whooping cough by PCR is sup erior to traditional culturing. PCR shortens the diagnostical span of 5-7 to one day and substantially more apparent infections are detected than by culture. Conclusions: Especially in the early stages of whoop ing cough or during a mild or atypical progress of the disease, PCR pr oves to be the more sensitive and rapid method for the detection of Bo rdetella pertussis than culture could be.