Critical pertussis illness in children: A multicenter prospective cohort study

John T. Berger, Joseph A. Carcillo, Thomas P. Shanley, David L. Wessel, Amy Clark, Richard Holubkov, Kathleen L. Meert, Christopher J.L. Newth, Robert A. Berg, Sabrina Heidemann, Rick Harrison, Murray Pollack, Heidi Dalton, Eric Harvill, Alexia Karanikas, Teresa Liu, Jeri S. Burr, Allan Doctor, J. Michael Dean, Tammara L. JenkinsCarol E. Nicholson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

91 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Pertussis persists in the United States despite high immunization rates. This report characterizes the presentation and acute course of critical pertussis by quantifying demographic data, laboratory findings, clinical complications, and critical care therapies among children requiring admission to the PICU. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Eight PICUs comprising the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network and 17 additional PICUs across the United States. Patients: Eligible patients had laboratory confirmation of pertussis infection, were younger than 18 years old, and died in the PICU or were admitted to the PICU for at least 24 hours between June 2008 and August 2011. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: A total of 127 patients were identified. Median age was 49 days, and 105 (83%) patients were less than 3 months old. Fifty-five (43%) patients required mechanical ventilation and 12 patients (9.4%) died during initial hospitalization. Pulmonary hypertension was found in 16 patients (12.5%) and was present in 75% of patients who died, compared with 6% of survivors (p < 0.001). Median WBC was significantly higher in those requiring mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), those with pulmonary hypertension (p < 0.001), and nonsurvivors (p < 0.001). Age, sex, and immunization status did not differ between survivors and nonsurvivors. Fourteen patients received leukoreduction therapy (exchange transfusion [12], leukopheresis [1], or both [1]). Survival benefit was not apparent. Conclusions: Pulmonary hypertension may be associated with mortality in pertussis critical illness. Elevated WBC is associated with the need for mechanical ventilation, pulmonary hypertension, and mortality risk. Research is indicated to elucidate how pulmonary hypertension, immune responsiveness, and elevated WBC contribute to morbidity and mortality and whether leukoreduction might be efficacious.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)356-365
Number of pages10
JournalPediatric Critical Care Medicine
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

Keywords

  • Intensive care
  • Leukocyte reduction procedures
  • Outcome
  • Pertussis
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Respiratory failure

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Critical pertussis illness in children: A multicenter prospective cohort study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this