pertussis

All household members should be considered for chemoprophylaxis if a pertussis patient is part of a household that includes unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children <1 year or children who are about to be born (pregnancy >34 weeks).

Prophylaxis is only given after laboratory confirmation of pertussis. Exception: if there is an unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated infant in the household, then, if pertussis is suspected in any household member, treatment and prophylaxis should be started while awaiting laboratory diagnostics.

For children in the household who are at increased risk of a complicated course (underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease), consider prophylaxis for all household members in consultation with an infectious diseases specialist.

Prophylaxis must be initiated within three weeks after the onset of coughing paroxysms in the index patient.

Prophylaxis in nursing homes/hospitals should be discussed with the Department of Hygiene and Infection Prevention, the medical microbiologist, and/or the infectious diseases specialist.