Tacoma hospitals report more whooping cough

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Saturday, February 16, 2002, 12:00 a.m. Pacific

Tacoma hospitals report more whooping cough

By Judith Blake

Seattle Times staff reporter

Fifteen new cases of whooping cough were diagnosed yesterday among employees

of Bridge Children's Health Center in Tacoma and Tacoma General

Hospital, both owned by Multi-Care Health System.

Multi-Care has begun treating all employees involved in direct patient care

with antibiotics, which provide about 10 days of immunity to the disease,

said Marcia , the system's infection-control manager.

" We're hoping to get everybody treated so we can just stop it here, " she

said.

The new cases were about equally divided between the two hospitals,

said. They bring to 19 the number of employees diagnosed with whopping cough

within the past week.

Bridge officials revised to four (from six) the number of employees

reported with the infection earlier in the week.

The cases involve individuals who work in both patient-care and

nonpatient-care areas, such as offices, suggesting the infection source is

most likely outside the hospital, said.

She said so far there's been no indication that any patient or any employee

has contracted whooping cough from a staff member.

" Because this group (of cases) all developed at the same time, it might lead

you to believe there's a common source, " she said. " But many have no contact

with each other, either at work or outside of work. "

Health officials are interviewing diagnosed people about their contacts in

an attempt to learn the source. However, the source of such outbreaks is

often never found.

Patient cases have mostly been in the normal range for this time of year -

the " respiratory season, " said.

Earlier this month, seven children were diagnosed with the disease at

Bridge, which was somewhat higher than normal but not extremely so, she

said.

In all of those cases, the children arrived at the hospital with whooping

cough, which they had clearly contracted elsewhere, she said. One, a

1-month-old boy, was admitted and was reported in stable condition

yesterday.

Treatment of employees with antibiotics is being done in consultation with

the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department and the state Department of

Health, said.

Of Multi-Care's approximately 5,000 employees, about 1,000 direct-care

workers are expected to be treated.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is caused by bacteria. Symptoms include

vomiting, fainting and a cough so severe that it's difficult for the patient

to breathe. Infants are most severely affected and can die.

Washington requires immunization against whooping cough for all children

before they enter school or a day-care center. Health officials recommend

immunization before age 2.

The vaccine's immunizing effects wear off after about 10 years, and there's

no vaccine for teens or adults.

" It's a big gap, " said. She said researchers are working to develop

an adult vaccine.

While adults usually become only mildly ill from whooping cough, they can

spread it to unvaccinated children.

Judith Blake can be reached at 206- 464-2349 or jblake@....