Haemophilus Influenzae Infection - Symptoms & Treatment

Haemophilus influenzae was once the most common cause of bacterial meningitis and a frequent cause of other serious bacteremic infections. H influenzae encodes 3 distinct immunoglobulin A (IgA) proteases that may be involved as virulence factors by interfering with host mucosal defenses. particularly in early childhood. The disease remains common in countries not using the vaccine. H influenzae type b (Hib) was the most common cause of pediatric bacterial meningitis in the United States. Hib colonization may not produce symptoms, breakthrough bacteremia with subsequent focal infection was common at one time, and it was a major public health problem in children in the United States. Active immunization of young infants is the most important means for prevention of Hib infection. Passive prophylaxis with hyperimmune globulin is no longer used except when intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is administered to immunocompromised individuals. The development of vaccines for NTHi is an active area of research. Hib easily are spread via person-to-person transmission. Hib strains have historically been associated with invasive disease in children.Before effective vaccines were available, nasopharyngeal acquisition of Hib occurred in most children aged 5 years or younger.