What is the recommended treatment for a patient diagnosed with Pertussis?

The recommended treatment for a patient diagnosed with Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is macrolide antibiotics. Macrolides, particularly azithromycin and erythromycin, are effective against Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium responsible for the infection. These antibiotics not only help in reducing the severity and duration of symptoms but also limit the spread of the disease, especially in high-risk populations such as infants and those in close contact with infected individuals.

While beta-lactam antibiotics, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines are used to treat various bacterial infections, they are not effective against Bordetella pertussis. This specificity is important to understand when treating infections, as selecting the correct antibiotic class is crucial for effective management of bacterial diseases. In the case of pertussis, the action of macrolides against the bacterium makes them the treatment of choice.