RESUMO
Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, was isolated by culture of nasopharyngeal secretions of 22 days new-born who was hospitalized for paroxysms cough and apnea. The specimen was directly plated on freshly made selective media [Bordet-Gengou medium supplemented with 10% fresh horse blood and penicillin]. Bordetella pertussis isolate was susceptible to amoxcillin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, tetracyclin, chloramphenicol and of intermediate sensitivity to erythromycin. This isolate should be weakly virulent. The evolution was favourable after 6 days treatment with amoxycillin and gentamicin. In spite of the vaccination, whooping cough remains a not rare disease. The diagnostic may be confirmed by the laboratory, but the successful isolation of Bordetella pertussis depends on the quality of specimen and media