Overview
pertussis Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Bordetellaceae family. It is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen and is the cause of whooping cough. B. pertussis infects the upper respiratory tract and releases toxins, which predispose the airways to inflammation and allow the bacteria to colonize and cause infection. B. pertussis is one of the few pathogens for which a vaccine has been developed, and it is currently included in the national immunization schedule in most countries. Vaccination has led to a marked decrease in the prevalence of whooping cough in many countries, making it a highly successful public health measure. B. pertussis is also increasingly recognized as a cause of atypical and persistent respiratory infections in adults, as well as of post-tussive vomiting and secretory otitis media.