We retrospectively assessed the effectiveness of azithromycin in preventing transmission of pertussis to a patient’s household contacts. We also considered the duration between symptom onset in the primary patient and azithromycin administration. We categorized contacts into 4 groups: those treated within <7 days, 8–14 days, 15–21 days, and >21 days after illness onset in the primary patient. We studied 476 primary index patients and their 1,975 household contacts, of whom 4.5% were later identified as having pertussis. When contacts started chemoprophylaxis within <21 days after the primary patient’s symptom onset, the treatment was 43.9% effective. Chemoprophylaxis started >14 days after primary patient’s symptom onset was less effective. We recommend that contacts of persons with pertussis begin chemoprophylaxis within <14 days after primary patient’s symptom onset.
CITATION STYLE
Alvarez, J., Godoy, P., Plans-Rubio, P., Camps, N., Carol, M., Carmona, G., … Jordan, I. (2020). Azithromycin to Prevent Pertussis in Household Contacts, Catalonia and Navarre, Spain, 2012–2013. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(11), 2678–2684. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2611.181418
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