Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease, 2004

Fifty-five cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease (1.1 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2004. Case-patients ranged in age from newborn to 96 years (median, 65 years). Twenty-five (45%) case-patients had pneumonia, 16 (29%) had bacteremia without another focus of infection, eight (15%) had meningitis, and 6 (11%) had other conditions. Nine (16%) deaths were reported among these case-patients.

Of 49 H. influenzae isolates for which typing was performed at MDH, 10 (20%) were type f, five (10%) type e, two (4%) type b, two (4%) type a, one (2%) type c, and 29 (59%) were untypeable. Isolates from six cases were not available for typing.

Two cases of type b (Hib) disease occurred in 2004, compared to five cases in 2003, and one case in 2002. The Hib cases reported in 2004 occurred in a 5-month-old and an adult older than 40. The 5-month-old had not been vaccinated, and the other individual had underlying medical conditions. The adult had pneumonia and the infant had meningitis. Both patients survived.

The nine deaths occurred in patients ranging in age from 44 to 87 years. Six case-patients presented with pneumonia, two with bacteremia without another focus of infection, and one with peritonitis. Eight case-patients had H. influenzae isolated from blood and one from peritoneal fluid. Six had significant underlying medical conditions. Three of the isolates from the nine deceased case-patients were type c; five were untypeable isolates and one isolate was not available for typing.

• For up to date information see>> Haemophilus influenzae (invasive disease)
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2004