Volume 11, Number 4—April 2005
Letter
Bordetella pertussis in Adult Pneumonia Patients1
Kirsten A. Beynon*, Sheryl A. Young*, Richard T.R. Laing†, Timothy G. Harrison‡, Trevor P. Anderson*, and David R. Murdoch*†
Table
Characteristics of adults with pneumonia and evidence of recent Bordetella pertussis infection
| Characteristic | Definite evidence of recent B. pertussis infection (n = 8) | Possible evidence of recent B. pertussis infection (n = 18) |
|---|---|---|
| Median age (range) | 68 (37–86) y | 71 (34–95) y |
| Male:female | 4:4 | 13:5 |
| Current or ex-smokers | 6 (75%) | 16 (89%) |
| Median (range) duration of symptoms at admission | 8.5 (1–21) d | 3.5 (1–30) d |
| Presence of cough | 8 (100%) | 15 (83%) |
| Sputum production | 6 (75%) | 7 (39%) |
| Other respiratory tract pathogens identified | 6 (75%) | 11 (61%) |
1 Presented at the Community Acquired Pneumonia Conference, Deerhurst Resort, Ontario, Canada, September 10–12, 2003.
