Deck 36: Bordetella Pertussis and Bordetella Parapertussis

Question 1

During the catarrhal stage of pertussis, symptoms are

A)a runny nose and mild cough.
B)severe and violent coughing.
C)vomiting and "whooping" as air is rapidly inspired into the lungs past the swollen glottis.
D)lymphocytosis and fever.

Answer 1

A
Classic pertussis is usually a disease of children and can be divided into three symptomatic stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. During the catarrhal stage, symptoms are the same as a mild cold with a runny nose and mild cough; this stage may last for several weeks

Question 2

The mode of transmission of Bordetella pertussis can best be described as

A)person-to-person contact.
B)exposure to contaminated water.
C)inhalation of contaminated air.
D)close contact with animals.

Answer 2

A
Infection by Bordetella pertussis is transmitted from person-to-person presumably by airborne transmission from the cough of an infected person. Humans are the only reservoir.

Question 3

Acceptable specimens for detection of Bordetella pertussis are

A)throat swabs.
B)sputum.
C)nasopharyngeal aspirates.
D)anterior nose swab.

Answer 3

C
Nasopharyngeal aspirates or nasopharyngeal swabs (calcium alginate or Dacron on a wire handle) are acceptable specimens because B. pertussis colonizes the ciliated epithelial cells of upper respiratory tract. Specimens obtained from throat, sputum, or anterior nose are unacceptable because these sites are not lined with ciliated epithelium. For collection, the swab is bent to conform to the nasal passage and held against the posterior aspect of the nasopharynx. If coughing does not occur, another swab is inserted into the other nostril to initiate the cough. The swab is left in place during the entire cough, removed, and immediately inoculated onto a selective medium at the bedside.

Question 4

During the paroxysmal stage of pertussis, symptoms are

A)a runny nose and mild cough.
B)severe and violent coughing.
C)neutrocytosis and fever.
D)lymphadenitis.

Question 5

Pertussis (whooping cough) is an epidemic disease that is a highly contagious, acute infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by

A)Brucella species.
B)Bordetella species.
C)Pasteurella species.
D)Francisella species.