Sharp Rise in High-Virulence Bordetella pertussis with Macrolide Resistance in China

In this investigation, the Bordetella pertussis strains were isolated from 2019 to 2023, both pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. it is observed that the rapid emergence and dominance of the ptxP3-erythromycin resistance B. pertussis (ERBP) lineage of B. pertussis in China. This newly emerged strain exhibits not only heightened virulence but also resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. The emergence and prevalence of this lineage not only provide insights into the severe pertussis epidemic in China but also have implications for the ongoing global pandemic.