Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease, 2007

Eighty-two cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease (1.6 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2007. Case-patients ranged in age from newborn to 103 years (median, 66 years). Thirty-seven (45%) case-patients had pneumonia, 36 (44%) had bacteremia without another focus of infection, five (6%) had meningitis, and four (5%) had other conditions. Nine (11%) deaths were reported among these case-patients.

Of 73 H. influenzae isolates for which typing was performed at MDH, eight (11%) were type f, four (5%) type e, four (5%) type a, two (3%) type d, one (1%) type b, one (1%) type c, and 53 (73%) were untypeable.

One case of type b (Hib) disease occurred in 2007, compared to four cases in 2006, one case in 2005, and two cases in 2004. The 2007 case occurred in a child <5 years of age that had received two Hib vaccinations. The child had meningitis and survived.

The nine deaths occurred in patients ranging in age from newborn to 103 years. Three case-patients presented with pneumonia and six with bacteremia without another focus of infection. Eight case-patients had H. influenzae isolated from blood and one from pleural fluid. Seven had significant underlying medical conditions. Of the nine case-patients who died, seven case-isolates that were untypeable had one serotype f, and one case-isolate was not available from the hospital lab 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, 2007