Haemophilus sp cause numerous mild and serious infections, including bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, otitis media, cellulitis, and epiglottitis. Diagnosis is by culture and serotyping. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Many Haemophilus sp are normal flora in the upper respiratory tract and rarely cause illness. Pathogenic strains enter the upper respiratory tract through droplet inhalation or direct contact. Spread is rapid in nonimmune populations. Children, particularly males, blacks, and Native Americans, are at highest risk of serious infection. Overcrowded living conditions and day care center attendance predispose to infection, as do immunodeficiency states, asplenia, and sickle cell disease.

There are several pathogenic species of Haemophilus; the most common is H. influenzae, which has 6 distinct encapsulated serotypes (a through f) and numerous nonencapsulated, nontypeable strains. Before the use of H. influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine, most cases of serious, invasive disease were caused by type b.

Diseases caused by Haemophilus sp: H. influenzae causes many childhood infections, including meningitis, bacteremia, septic arthritis, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, otitis media, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, and acute epiglottitis. These infections, as well as endocarditis and UTIs, may occur in adults, although far less commonly. These illnesses are discussed elsewhere in The Manual.

Nontypeable H. influenzae strains cause mainly mucosal infections (eg, otitis media, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, bronchitis). Occasionally, nonencapsulated strains cause invasive infections in children, but they may cause up to half of serious H. influenzae infections in adults.

H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius (formerly called H. aegyptius) may cause mucopurulent conjunctivitis and bacteremic Brazilian purpuric fever. H. ducreyi causes chancroid (see Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Chancroid). H. parainfluenzae and H. aphrophilus are rare causes of bacteremia, endocarditis, and brain abscess.

Diagnosis

• Cultures
• Sometimes serotyping

Diagnosis is by culture of blood and body fluids. Strains involved in invasive illness should be serotyped.

Treatment

• Various antibiotics depending on site and severity of infection

Treatment depends on nature and location of the infection, but doxycyclineSome Trade Names
PERIOSTAT
VIBRAMYCIN
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, fluoroquinolones, 2nd- and 3rd-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenems are used for invasive disease. The Hib vaccine has markedly reduced the rate of bacteremia. Children with serious illness are hospitalized with contact and respiratory isolation for 24 h after starting antibiotics.

Antibiotic choices depend strongly on the site of infection and require susceptibility testing; many isolates in the US produce β-lactamase. For invasive illness, including meningitis, cefotaximeSome Trade Names
CLAFORAN
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or ceftriaxoneSome Trade Names
ROCEPHIN
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is recommended. For less serious infections, oral cephalosporins, macrolides, and amoxicillin/clavulanateSome Trade Names
AUGMENTIN

are generally effective. (See individual disease entries for specific recommendations.)

Prevention

Hib conjugate vaccines are available for children ≥ 2 mo of age and have reduced invasive infections (eg, meningitis, epiglottitis, bacteremia) by 99%. A primary series is given at age 2, 4, and 6 mo or at age 2 and 4 mo, depending on the vaccine product. A booster at age 12 to 15 mo is indicated.

Contacts within the household may have asymptomatic H. influenzae carriage. Unimmunized or incompletely immunized household contacts < 4 yr are at risk of illness and should receive a dose of vaccine. In addition, all household members (except pregnant women) should receive prophylaxis with rifampinSome Trade Names
RIFADIN
RIMACTANE
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600 mg (20 mg/kg for children) po once/day for 4 days. Nursery or day care contacts should receive prophylaxis if ≥ 2 cases of invasive disease occurred in 60 days. The benefit of prophylaxis if only one case occurred has not been established.

Last full review/revision August 2009 by Burke A. Cunha, MD

Content last modified February 2012