Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis

I.    PRINCIPLE

Culture is performed for both B. pertussis and B. parapertussis.

II. SPECIMEN

  • Jones-Kendrick transport media.
  • Minitip swabs
  • Specimen collection.
    1. Acceptable swabs. The preferred swabs are aluminum-shafted rayon or dacron swabs.
    2. Required specimen. Two nasopharyngeal swabs (one from each nostril).  NOTE: Nasopharyngeal suctions or washings are not acceptable.
    3. Patient collection.
      1. Immobilize the patient's head.
      2. Gently insert one swab into each of the patient's nostrils until it reaches the posterior nares.
      3. Leave the swab in place for a few seconds (the tickling sensation of the swab usually causes a cough). NOTE: If any resistance is encountered in one nostril, collect the specimen from the other nostril only, as some patients may have a deviated septum.
      4. Immediately place both swabs into the appropriate transport media. Place both swabs in one vial of transport.  Either push all of the swab into the transport media or cut off part of the wire above rim.  For Jones-Kendrick, stab swabs into agar slant. Cap securely.

    • Nasopharygneal Specimen Collection

    1. Specimen transport.
      1. Observe expiration date on media. Transport to the laboratory within 24 hours at room temperature; if greater than 24 hours, refrigerate at 4°C.

    References:

    Balows, Hausler, Herrmann, Isenberg, Shadomy. 1990. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 5th ed., American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C., pp. 471-475.

    Friedman, Richard L. 1988. Pertussis: The disease and new diagnostic methods. Clin Microbiol. Rev. 1:365-376.

    Morril WE, Barbaree J, Fields BS, Sanden GN, and Martini WT. 1988. Effect of transport temperature and medium on recovery of Bordetella pertussis from nasopharyngeal swabs. J Clin Microbiol. 26: 1814-1817.

    Revised: 5/2/2007