Pertussis prevention and diagnosis practices for adolescents and adults among a national sample of French general practitioners

Authors report a cross-observational study conducted to determine the awareness and adherence of general practioners (GPs) to pertussis vaccine guidelines; to identify the barriers encountered by GPs to adhering to these guidelines; and to describe diagnosis and case management approaches for adolescent and adult pertussis in France. This study, conducted independently of any pharmaceutical companies, concludes that greater awareness of the public health morbidity and mortality of pertussis, intensive immunization adherence for all those in contact with infants, and adherence to routine immunization schedules are necessary to reduce the burden of disease due to Bordetella pertussis. The barriers encountered (the most important were the incomprehension of patients who are not informed about the circulation of pertussis in the adult population and the fact that pertussis is not commercialized as a monovalent vaccine) should be examined further as they do not seem to be related to a lack of GP knowledge. Public information campaigns are needed. The results emphasize the need of policy development for management of pertussis in France.