Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease, 2018

One hundred two invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease cases (1.8 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2018. Cases ranged in age from newborn to 97 years (median 62 years). Allowing for more than one syndrome per case, 42 (33%) cases had pneumonia, 33 (26%) bacteremia, 13 (10%) meningitis, 9 (7%) septic shock, 3 (2%) epiglottitis, 3 (2%) septic arthritis, 2 (2%) cellulitis, 2 (2%) endometritis, 2 (2%) empyema, and the following each had 1 (1%): cholangitis, chorioamnionitis, endometritis, kidney infection, liver abscess, otitis media, pericarditis, and pyelonephritis. Twelve (12%) cases died.

Of 99 H. influenzae isolates for which typing was performed at PHL, 13 were type a, 1 type b (Hib), 6 type e, 12 type f, and 66 were untypeable. The 1 Hib disease case compared to 2 cases in 2017, 5 in 2016, 2 in 2015, and 1 in 2014. The case was a child <1 year of age, who had meningitis and survived. The child had received one Hib vaccination.

The 12 deaths occurred in patients ranging in age from newborn to 97 years. Seven cases had bacteremia without another focus of infection, (of these, 1 also had septic shock), and 5 had pneumonia. All 12 had H. influenzae isolated from blood. Comorbidities were reported in 9 of them. Of the 12 that died, all case-isolates were untypeable.

• For up to date information see>> Haemophilus influenzae (invasive disease)
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2018