Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be severe in unvaccinated newborns. Objectives. To investigate five clustered cases of pertussis among maternity ward staff involving exposure of newborns, and to assess staff compliance with recommendations and their experience of the outbreak. Methods. A retrospective study using a staff questionnaire on the implementation of preventive measures (erythromycin prophylaxis and mask-wearing). Results. Two hundred thirty-eight patients were notified of potential pertussis exposure. No cases were reported among the patients or their newborns. Ten confirmed or probable cases of pertussis were identified among the staff who responded to the survey (n = 101/210, 48%). Sixty percent of the staff took antibiotic prophylaxis, and 86% complied with mask-wearing, of whom 46% wore the mask properly. Factors contributing to non-compliance included side effects of antibiotic prophylaxis (41%), delayed notification (41%), and the belief that vaccination provided protection (22%). Communication was deemed unsatisfactory by 72% of staff, and the validity of the recommendations was criticized in 39% of cases. Conclusion. This survey illustrates the challenges of managing an outbreak in a healthcare unit, using pertussis as an example.