Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Apr;27(17):2100515.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.17.2100515.

Pertussis surveillance results from a French general practitioner network, France, 2017 to 2020

Marion Debin  1 , Titouan Launay  1 , Louise Rossignol  1   2 , Fatima Ait El Belghiti  3 , Sylvain Brisse  4   5 , Sophie Guillot  4   5 , Nicole Guiso  6 , Daniel Levy-Bruhl  3 , Lore Merdrignac  1   7 , Julie Toubiana  4   5   8 , Thierry Blanchon  1 , Thomas Hanslik  1   9   10
Affiliations

Pertussis surveillance results from a French general practitioner network, France, 2017 to 2020

Marion Debin et al. Euro Surveill. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

IntroductionIn France, three complementary surveillance networks involving hospitals and paediatrician practices currently allow pertussis surveillance among infants (<1 year old) and children (1-12 years old). Data on incidences among adolescents (13-17 years old) and adults (≥ 18 years) are scarce. In 2017, a sentinel surveillance system called Sentinelles network, was implemented among general practitioners (GPs).AimThe purpose of Sentinelles network is to assess pertussis incidence, monitor the cases' age distribution and evaluate the impact of the country's vaccination policy. We present the results from the first 4 years of this surveillance.MethodsGPs of the French Sentinelles network reported weekly numbers of epidemiologically or laboratory-confirmed cases and their characteristics.ResultsA total of 132 cases were reported over 2017-2020. Estimated national incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants were 17 (95% confidence interval (CI): 12-22) in 2017, 10 (95% CI: 6-14) in 2018, 15 (95% CI: 10-20) in 2019 and three (95% CI: 1-5) in 2020. The incidence rate was significantly lower in 2020 than in 2017-2019. Women were significantly more affected than men (83/132; 63% of women, p = 0.004); 66% (87/132) of cases were aged 15 years or over (median age: 31.5 years; range: 2 months-87 years). Among 37 vaccinated cases with data, 33 had received the recommended number of doses for their age.ConclusionsThese results concur with incidences reported in other European countries, and with studies showing that the incidences of several respiratory diseases decreased in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also suggest a shift of morbidity towards older age groups, and a rapid waning of immunity after vaccination, justifying to continue this surveillance.

Keywords: Bordetella; France; pertussis vaccine; sentinel network; surveillance; whooping cough.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: Guiso N has no conflict of interest for this surveillance, but participated in the past years in training sessions implemented by Sanofi Pasteur, and ‘advisory boards’ with Bionet Asia. For other authors, no conflict of interest declared.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Monthly cumulated pertussis incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants, France, 2017–2019a (n = 121)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Bonmarin I, Bouraoui L, Guiso N, Levy-Bruhl D. La coqueluche: collecte de données et choix des stratégies vaccinales [Pertussis: data collection and vaccinal strategy]. Med Mal Infect. 2009;39(5):271-7. 10.1016/j.medmal.2009.02.009 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Guiso N, de La Rocque F, Njamkepo E, Lécuyer A, Levy C, Romain O, et al. French Pediatrics Groups Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne and Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire . Pertussis surveillance in private pediatric practices, France, 2002-2006. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14(7):1159-61. 10.3201/eid1407.071246 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aguas R, Gonçalves G, Gomes MG. Pertussis: increasing disease as a consequence of reducing transmission. Lancet Infect Dis. 2006;6(2):112-7. 10.1016/S1473-3099(06)70384-X - DOI - PubMed
    1. Karsenty J-Y, Roure C, Vidal-Trecan G. La coqueluche en France. [Whooping cough in France]. BEH. 1990;19.
    1. Bégué P, Grimpel E, Roure C, Guiso N. La coqueluche en France: Nécessité de mise en place d'une surveillance. [Whooping cough in France: need for establishing a surveillance system]. BEH. 1992;48.

LinkOut - more resources