HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE

Haemophilus Influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae, or H. influenzae, is a kind of bacteria. It can cause

bacterial infections ranging from mild (such as bronchitis) to severe (such as septic
arthritis). Symptoms depend on the specific. Treatment includes antibiotics but you
may also require hospitalization depending on the severity of your condition.

Some H. influenzae infections are “invasive,” which means the bacteria invade

parts of your body that are normally free from germs. For instance, H.
influenzae can invade the fluid surrounding your spinal cord and brain, which can
cause meningitis. Meningitis is the swelling of the lining of your brain and spinal
cord. Invasive diseases usually require hospital treatment and can sometimes be
fatal.

Haemophilus influenzae type B

The most common type of H. influenzae is Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Haemophilus influenzae bacteria are categorized into encapsulated (typeable) and

non-encapsulated (non-typeable). Encapsulated means the bacteria have an outer
protective covering. This covering, or capsule, makes them more resistant
to antibiotics. Encapsulated bacteria are further separated into subtypes named “a”
through “f.”

Most often, Hib affects children younger than 5 years of age and adults over 65
years of age.

 It can also affect people who have weakened immune systems (are

immunocompromised), such as those with:

 Sickle cell disease.

 No spleen (asplenia).
 Antibody or complement deficiency syndromes.
 HIV.
 People undergoing chemotherapy, radiation or who have had a bone marrow
transplant.

The Hib vaccine can help protect against Haemophilus influenzae type b

infections.
Does Haemophilus influenzae cause influenza?
Despite its name, Haemophilus influenzae doesn’t cause the flu (influenza). It can
cause many other serious diseases, though.

What diseases can Haemophilus influenzae cause?

The most common diseases and infections caused by H. influenzae include:

 Ear infection (otitis media): An infection of the space behind your eardrum (the middle
ear).
 Bronchitis: An infection that occurs when the air-carrying tubes in your lungs
(bronchioles) are inflamed and make too much mucus.
 Cellulitis: An infection that occurs when bacteria enter your skin and tissues through an
open wound.
 Epiglottitis: An infection of your epiglottis. Your epiglottis is the flap of thin cartilage at
the back of your throat that closes your windpipe (trachea) while you’re swallowing.
 Pneumonia: An infection in one or both of your lungs that causes inflammation and an
accumulation of mucus.
 Meningitis: An infection of your meninges, which are the linings surrounding
your brain and spinal cord.
 Bloodstream infection (septicemia): An infection that occurs when bacteria enter your
bloodstream and spread throughout your body.
 Septic arthritis: Inflammation of the lining of your joints. It usually occurs when an
infection from another part of your body spreads through your blood to your joint.

Who does Haemophilus influenzae affect?

The Hib vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunization schedule.
Therefore, H. influenzae diseases primarily affect children who haven’t been
vaccinated for Hib type b. It also affects newborns who haven’t completed their
vaccination series.

H. influenzae disease incidence is also higher among children native to Alaska,

despite vaccination status. Infections occur in 5 out of every 100,000 children of
Alaskan descent. People who are 65 or older and people who are
immunocompromised are also more commonly affected.

How common is Haemophilus influenzae?

The United States introduced the conjugate Hib vaccine for children in 1987 and for infants in
1990. Before the introduction, about 20,000 children younger than 5 had a severe Hib disease
each year and about 1,000 died. Since the introduction of the vaccine, the rate of Hib infections
has dropped dramatically. Severe Hib disease cases have dropped by more than 99% since 1991.
In 2019, 0.15 out of every 100,000 children younger than 5 years old had a Hib disease.

Now, non-typeable H. influenzae causes the majority of Haemophilus influenzae diseases in all

age groups. In 2019, the rate was 1.62 out of every 100,000 children younger than 5 years old.
Most cases in children now are in those who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. Among
adults 65 years of age and older, the incidence of non-typeable H. influenzae was 4.88 per
100,000 people.

What causes Haemophilus influenzae?

Haemophilus influenzae is a type of bacteria that causes certain infections and
diseases. There are six subtypes of H. influenzae — type a through type f. Other
types of H. influenzae are classified as non-typeable. Type b, or Hib, causes 95%
of all severe invasive infections.

These bacteria live in your nose and throat but they usually don’t cause any harm.
When the bacteria move to other parts of your body, they can cause infections.

Is Haemophilus influenzae contagious?

Yes. You can get sick from Haemophilus influenzae if you’re not protected from
the bacteria through vaccination.

How is Haemophilus influenzae type b transmitted?

Haemophilus influenzae type b spreads from person to person through respiratory
droplets in coughs and sneezes. The respiratory droplets contain the bacteria, and
other people can get sick when they breathe in the droplets. The bacteria also
spread when people have lengthy or close contact with a person that has the
bacteria in their nose or throat, even if that person doesn’t have symptoms.
Scientists believe that Hib can’t survive on non-living surfaces or in the
environment.

How long am I contagious?

Experts don’t know the precise incubation period of Haemophilus influenzae. The
incubation period is the time it takes for symptoms to develop after an infectious
bacteria enters your body. Researchers believe it may take only a few days for
symptoms to develop after you’ve been infected.

How is Haemophilus influenzae diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will usually diagnose an H. influenzae infection with one
or more laboratory tests. They’ll take a sample of your blood, spinal fluid, joint
fluid, pleural fluid or middle ear aspirate. The first test they’ll use is called Gram
staining. The Gram stain looks for bacteria in the sample and determines the type
of bacteria causing a condition. Your healthcare provider may follow up with a
blood or body fluid culture to confirm the presence of the bacteria.

Is Haemophilus influenzae gram-positive or negative?

Under a Gram stain, bacteria changes to one of two sets of colors (pink to red or
purple to blue). These are categorized as gram-negative or gram-positive.
Haemophilus influenzae is gram-negative coccobacillus that appears red under the
microscope. Gram-negative bacteria have a hard outer shell that protects them and
makes them harder to kill. They’re resistant to most available antibiotics and can
find new ways to fight off attacks.

How is Haemophilus influenzae treated?

Haemophilus influenzae treatment depends on the type of infection or disease.
Treatment usually includes the use of antibiotics to fight the infection.
However, H. influenzae can be resistant to antibiotics. Depending on the severity
of your condition, you may need additional treatment in the hospital. Treatment
may include:

 Breathing support through face mask oxygen or intubation.

 Intravenous steroids.
 Medication to treat low blood pressure.
 Wound care for damaged skin.
 Surgical drainage for septic arthritis.

Humans are the only natural host of for H. influenzae, which is part of the normal
respiratory flora in 60%-90% of healthy children. Most isolates are nontypeable.
Before the advent of conjugate vaccine immunization, H.

PREVENTION
What is the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae?

You can protect your child from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections
with the Hib vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends all children younger than 2 years old receive the vaccine.

Your child’s healthcare provider will typically give the Hib vaccine in three or four
doses. Your infant will get their first dose at 2 months of age. They’ll get their
second dose at 4 months old. They’ll get a dose at 6 months old if they’re getting
four doses. Then, they’ll complete the series with a booster dose between 12
months old and 15 months old. Approximately 95% to 100% of children develop
protective antibody levels of Hib after the primary series.

Your child’s provider may give the Hib vaccine as a stand-alone vaccine [PRP-T
(ActHIB), PRP-T (Hiberix) or PRP-OMP (Pedvax HIB)] or as part of a
combination vaccine [DTap-IPV-Hib (pentacel) or DTap-IPV-Hib-Hep B
(Vaxelis)] A combination vaccine combines more than one vaccine into one shot.

The Hib vaccine prevents infections from Haemophilus influenzae type b. But it
doesn’t prevent infections caused by other types of H. influenzae. To prevent
other H. influenzae infections, you should keep your child’s hands clean and keep
them away from people who are sick. Teach your child how to wash their hands at
a young age.