Publication date: Jun 26, 2026
Pertussis remains a significant public health concern despite widespread vaccination, with a resurgence observed following the COVID-19 pandemic. The optimal sampling site for PCR-based detection of Bordetella pertussis remains uncertain. We conducted a multicenter prospective study across five institutions in Japan between October 2024 and May 2025. A total of 475 patients presenting with cough were enrolled. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected and analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR positivity was defined as a positive result in either specimen. Bacterial load, age distribution, temporal diagnostic patterns, and macrolide resistance-associated mutations were evaluated. Of 475 patients, 113 (23. 8%) were PCR-positive. Among 96 PCR-positive patients with paired nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens, oropharyngeal swabs showed significantly higher bacterial loads than nasopharyngeal swabs (P
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Bacterial | Bordetella pertussis |
| Increased | macrolide resistance |
| Japan | nasopharyngeal swab |
| Pandemic | oropharyngeal swab |
| Vaccination | pertussis |
| polymerase chain reaction |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | pertussis |
| pathway | KEGG | Pertussis |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | cough |