Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113019

Anand A. Date, Dr¹, Tom Safranek, Dr¹, Dennis Leschinsky, Mr¹, and Kathy Carter, APRN². (1) Epidemiology, Nebraska Health and Human Services, 301, Centennial Mall, P O Box 95007, Lincoln, NE 68509, 402-471-8820, bvz7@cdc.gov, (2) Doctors of Children Office, Suit 150 6041 Village drive, Lincoln, NE 68516

Background: In August 2004, the Nebraska Health Department was notified of a suspected pertussis outbreak among attendees of a summer camp for HIV-infected children and children in families of HIV-infected persons. The effect of HIV on Pertussis acquisition or severity is unknown. We investigated the outbreak to determine its extent, identify risk factors for transmission, and assess impact of HIV on severity of illness.

Methods: Public health staff interviewed camp attendees and reviewed medical records. Case-patient was defined as an attendee who met the CDC pertussis case definition and developed cough <21 days after camp ended.

Results: Of 86 children (ages 7–16 years) at the camp, 44(51%) were girls, and 31(36%) were HIV-positive. All attendees had received at least 4 doses of pertussis vaccine. Nineteen(22%) met the pertussis case definition; 15 were girls. The index case-patient was a girl with onset of cough on the first day of camp. Eight(50%) of 16 girls who shared a barracks-like bedroom with the index case-patient developed pertussis. Attack rate (29% versus 18% respectively) and illness severity were similar for HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected attendees. Longer intervals between last dose of pertussis vaccine and exposure at the camp (range=2–10 years) did not increase the risk of infection.

Conclusions: Transmission of pertussis was associated with prolonged exposure to the index case-patient in a barracks-like bedroom. HIV-infected children were not at increased risk of acquiring pertussis or of having more severe illness. Early isolation or exclusion of the index case-patient might have prevented this outbreak.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the extent of an outbreak
• Discuss the epidemiologic methods used to investigate the outbreak
• Assess the impact of HIV on pertussis acquisition and severity

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Outbreaks

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.