Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused most frequently by Bordetella pertussis. Clinical presentation ranges in severity, but life‐threatening illness disproportionately affects children and immunocompromised individuals.… Click to show full abstract
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused most frequently by Bordetella pertussis. Clinical presentation ranges in severity, but life‐threatening illness disproportionately affects children and immunocompromised individuals. Acellular vaccines for pertussis have been available for decades, and they are recommended throughout the lifespan. A patient who had received a kidney transplant presented with respiratory distress and dry cough as manifestations of co‐infection with B pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis/bronchiseptica. The goal of this case report was to highlight the importance of immunization programs at transplant centers, which are in the unique position to care for patients both with end‐stage organ disease and in the post‐transplant setting.
               
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