NEWS
- 10 March | ForumIAS Residential Coaching (FRC) Student secures Rank 6 in CSE 2025! →
- 10 March | SFG Folks! This dude got Rank 7 in CSE 2025 with SFG! →
- 10 March | SFG Folks! She failed prelims 3 times. Then cleared the exam in one go! Watch Now! →
News: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh reported a sharp rise of pertussis-like infections by Bordetella holmesii in north India, based on 2019–2023 surveillance.
About Bordetella Holmesii
- Bordetella holmesii is a Gram-negative coccobacillus, strictly aerobic and slow-growing organism.
- First identified: It was first identified as a distinct species in 1995.
- Diseases caused by it:
- Pertussis-like illness: It presents with symptoms similar to whooping cough.
- Invasive infections: It can cause bacteremia, pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, pericarditis, and septic arthritis.
- Misdiagnosis: It is frequently misdiagnosed as B. pertussis because standard diagnostic tests are not species-specific.
- Detection:
- Accurate detection needs precise molecular assays (e.g., real-time PCR) targeting insertion sequences.
- Culture technique and real-time PCR are 2 methods used to detect Bordetella spp.
- Resistance: It can show resistance to some antibiotics commonly used for B. pertussis and other invasive infections, such as macrolides and certain cephalosporins
- Epidemiological significance: Recent studies indicate that B. holmesii is a significant cause of infection in some areas.
- For example, a study in North India found it responsible for nearly 37% of pertussis-like infections, exceeding those caused by B. pertussis.
