Pertussis for Health Care Providers
The Health Department has alerted health care providers about an increase in the number of pertussis cases.
Providers are asked to maintain a high index of suspicion for pertussis for clinical diagnosis, testing, treating, providing prophylaxis, and to report cases to the Health Department.
- Guidelines for Managing Pertussis
- Diagnosis
- Laboratory Testing
- Treatment
- Stop Transmission
- Vaccines
- Health Alerts and Advisories
- CDC Pertussis Resources
Guidelines for Managing Pertussis
- Guidelines for Managing Pertussis
- Poster for Clinician Offices - "Think, Test, Treat, Stop Transmission"
Diagnosis
Consider pertussis in your differential diagnosis when patients show clinical symptoms.
- Pertussis Clinical Information
(adapted from Minnesota Department of Health)
Laboratory Testing
Testing for B. pertussis is available at the Health Department Laboratory.
Request VDH Kit #5 for proper collection and transport materials. Culture testing (no charge) or culture/PCR testing ($36) can be requested. Culture results are available within seven days of receipt at the Health Department Laboratory, and PCR is performed on Mondays and Thursdays.
- PCR testing for pertussis. You can find this table on page 20 here.
- PCR Fact Sheet
- The CDC website has comprehensive information about pertussis testing.
- Instructions for submitting PCR and culture specimens
- Clinical test request form
Treatment
Stop Transmission
- Exclusion recommendations - This chart provides detailed information about school and activity exclusion recommendations for students.
Vaccines
- Chart with ACIP recommendations for the use of TdaP (at the end of the document)
- Recommendations for use of TdaP in pregnant women