Search
Haemophilus influenzae
Gram negative bacilli. Requires coagulation factors V & X. ALA -; hemolysis -. Encapsulated & unencapsulated strains.
Epidemiology:
- unencapsulated strains present in sputum of 30-60% of normal adults & 60-80% of patients with COPD
Pathology:
1) bacteremia is almost always associated with encapsulated strains
2) both encapsulated & unencapsulated strains cause:
a) pulmonary infections
b) otitis
c) sinusitis
d) epiglottitis
e) pneumonia
Laboratory:
- Haemophilus influenzae serology
- Haemophilus influenzae serotype
- Haemophilus influenzae antigen
- Haemophilus influenzae identified in isolate
- Haemophilus influenzae DNA
- Haemophilus influenzae acs gene
- Haemophilus influenzae bcs gene
- Haemophilus influenzae ccs gene
- Haemophilus influenzae dcs gene
- Haemophilus influenzae ecs gene
- Haemophilus influenzae bex gene
- Haemophilus influenzae hpd gene
- Haemophilus influenzae lex2 gene
- Haemophilus influenzae rRNA
- Haemophilus influenzae identified by culture
- see ARUP consult [4]
Complications:
Pneumonia:
1) most cases associated with COPD or alcoholism
2) also occurs in military recruits
3) copious sputum production
4) lower lobes affected more frequently than upper lobes
5) chest X-ray findings are consistent with bronchopneumonia or lobar pneumonia
6) pleural effusion occurs in 30% of patients
7) cavitation is rare
Management:
1) outpatient
a) oral cephalosporin, 2nd or 3rd generation
b) Augmentin
c) alternative agents
- doxycycline
- clarithromycin
- azithromycin
- fluoroquinolone
2) hospitalized patient
- ceftriaxone
- cefotaxime
- ampicillin 1-2 g IV q 6 hours if isolate is susceptible.
Related
haemophilus b vaccine; HIB vaccine (HibTITER, Hiberix)
General
Haemophilus
Properties
KINGDOM: monera
DIVISION: SCHIZOMYCETES
References
- Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 28th edition, Ewald &
McKenzie (eds) Little, Brown & Co, 1995, pg 301
- Mayo Internal Medicine Board Review, 1998-99, Prakash UBS (ed)
Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1998, pg 797
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15, 18.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009, 2018.
- ARUP Consult: Haemophilus influenzae
The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection & Interpretation
https://www.arupconsult.com/content/haemophilus-influenzae