Critical pertussis infection in the paediatric intensive care unit: A case series in an outbreak

This study demonstrated high mortality rates in infants with critical pertussis under the age of 3 months, especially in infants who are unimmunized or partially immunized. We therefore recommend vaccination against <i>Bordetella pertussis</i> in the third trimester of pregnancy and stress the importance of strengthening current immunization programmes. Our study highlights the importance of describing the markers of disease severity, such as hyperleukocytosis, especially in resource constrained settings, in order to ensure timeous transfer to PICU. We recommend further research regarding these markers of disease severity as well as therapies offered such as leukoreduction or exchange transfusion.