Bordetella holmesii: an under-recognised Bordetella species.

Pittet LF; Emonet S; Schrenzel J; Siegrist CA; Posfay-Barbe KM

doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(14)70021-0

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Journal article

Bordetella holmesii: an under-recognised Bordetella species.

Pittet LF Department of Paediatrics, Division of General Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, University Hospitals of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Emonet S Department of Genetics and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medical Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Schrenzel J Department of Genetics and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medical Specialties, University Hospitals of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Siegrist CA Department of Paediatrics, Division of General Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, University Hospitals of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Neonatal Immunology, Departments of Pathology-Immunology and Paediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Posfay-Barbe KM Department of Paediatrics, Division of General Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, University Hospitals of Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: klara.posfaybarbe@hcuge.ch.

2014-04-12

Published in:

The Lancet. Infectious diseases. - 2014

English Bordetella holmesii, first described in 1995, is believed to cause both invasive infections (bacteraemia, meningitis, endocarditis, pericarditis, pneumonia, and arthritis) and pertussis-like symptoms. Infection with B holmesii is frequently misidentified as being with B pertussis, the cause of whooping cough, because routine diagnostic tests for pertussis are not species-specific. In this Review, we summarise knowledge about B holmesii diagnosis and treatment, and assess research needs. Although no fatal cases of B holmesii have been reported, associated invasive infections can cause substantial morbidities, even in previously healthy individuals. Antimicrobial treatment can be problematic because B holmesii's susceptibility to macrolides (used empirically to treat B pertussis) and third-generation cephalosporins (often used to treat invasive infections) is lower than would be expected. B holmesii's adaptation to human beings is continuing, and virulence might increase, causing the need for better diagnostic assays and epidemiological surveillance.

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