OFFICIAL: Pertussis testing through Brighton in the SE email
Resource
Dear ICB and NHSE colleagues,
Please share the following about pertussis testing availability with primary care colleagues in the South East through your networks.
Pertussis notifications are increasing and we are writing to inform you of some changes to testing availability. The regional public health laboratory for the South East at Royal Sussex County Hospital is able to offer pertussis PCR testing Monday-Thursday (any samples received outside of this time, will be processed on the next working day). You will not be charged for this service. The tests should be sent via your local lab using either of the attached lab request forms. The attached document provides details about the service and types of tests that can be sent. As PCR results are likely to take about a week to be reported back to primary care colleagues please do not delay the start of antibiotic treatment for suspected patients. Follow UKHSA and NICE recommendations about appropriate antibiotics in order to eradicate the organism and limit ongoing transmission. Not all patients will require testing and treatment can be initiated on clinical suspicion, if indicated. Patients notified the Health Protection Team between 2-16 years (inclusive) will routinely be sent an oral fluid test for surveillance testing (see attached for details).
Please consider pertussis in your differential for patients who present with an acute cough lasting for 14 days or more without an apparent cause plus one or more of the following:
- paroxysms of coughing
- post-tussive vomiting
- inspiratory whoop
- undiagnosed apnoeic attacks in young infants
or
- someone with signs and symptoms consistent with pertussis who has been in contact with a confirmed case in the previous 21 days
or
- someone who is known to be part of any ongoing outbreak investigation in a specific group of people. For example, children attending the same school or nursery where pertussis is known to be circulating.
If you suspect pertussis, please remember to notify promptly to the South East Health Protection Team (at 0344 225 3861/ PHE.sshpu@nhs.net) and to include vaccination history and onset date. If antibiotics are indicated suspected cases should be excluded from school until they have had 48 hours of antibiotics.
Best wishes,
Rachel
Rachel Mearkle (she/her)
Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, GMC: 6141496
South East Health Protection Team (Thames Valley)
UK Health Security Agency
Tel: 0344 225 3861
www.gov.uk/ukhsa Follow us on Twitter @UKHSA
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