pertussis

Nurses General Nursing

Published

One source says that Bordetella pertussis is the cause of whooping cough,

that Bordetella is a genus of bacteria

another source says that Haemophilus pertussis is the cause of whooping

cough.

(Haemophilus is a genus of hemophilic gram-negative bacteria)

How is Bordetella linked with Haemophilus?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

I don't believe Bordetella and Haemophilus are linked.

Bordetella is the genus of bacteria that causes whooping cough/pertussis.

Haemophilus is the genus of bacteria that causes meningitis, bactermia, and a lot of other nasties. The closest they come to being related (as far as I know) is belonging to the same phylum. I could be completely wrong- if someone else knows differently I hope they post :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks,

maybe listing "H. pertussis = whooping cough" under the section of Haemophilus organisms in this book is an error (as I recall, I had

discovered another error in this book when it listed an organism in

the wrong category)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

The NIH lists haemophilus pertussis as another name for bordetella pertussis. My understanding is that "back in the day" pertussis was referred to as H. pertussis until more was known about it. Today it is known as bordetella pertussis.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks, I'll check

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment