A new manual providing guidance on the diagnosis and surveillance of pertussis has been made available to European laboratories. The manual was edited by Professor Qiushui He, an InFLAMES group leader at the University of Turku, and project researcher Alex-Mikael Barkoff.
Pertussis is diagnosed and typed using varying methods in European laboratories, and there can be significant differences in the quality of test results. The new manual aims to harmonise laboratory practices, which would benefit rapid diagnostics, surveillance of circulating bacteria, and the proper treatment of pertussis.
“Diagnostics are the cornerstone of everything. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical especially for infants with pertussis. When selecting treatment, it is important to know whether the bacteria are sensitive or resistant to macrolide antibiotics, the first-line drug for treatment and prophylaxis. In addition, more detailed information about the bacterial changes helps us assess vaccine effectiveness and develop better vaccines,” Alex-Mikael Barkoff summarizes.
Pertussis is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Bacterial strains that have developed resistance to macrolide antibiotics are becoming an increasing challenge in the treatment of the disease. For example, in China, as many as 90 percent of circulating bacterial strains are already macrolide-resistant, meaning that macrolides are no longer effective against the disease. Recently, in several regions of Japan macrolide resistant B. pertussis is detected.
“ Although, macrolide-resistant strains have been detected in several European countries, the situation is not that bad here yet. However, seven such strains have been identified in Finland,” Alex-Mikael Barkoff says.
Pertussis is a highly contagious infectious disease that can be prevented through vaccinations. Despite this, pertussis has remained a concern in the European Union, where the most recent wave of pertussis outbreaks occurred in 23–24. In 2025, the European Commission established a network of European reference laboratories for the prevention and surveillance of pertussis and diphtheria, led by Professor Qiushui He. The network works closely with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The ECDC has published the manual Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Surveillance of Bordetella pertussis.
