Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease, 2003

Fifty-seven cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease (1.2 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2003. Case-patients ranged in age from newborn to 96 years (median, 60 years). Twenty-three (40%) case patients had pneumonia, 18 (32%) had bacteremia without another focus of infection, four (7%) had meningitis, and 12 (21%) had other conditions.
Eight (14%) deaths were reported among these case-patients.

Of 53 H. influenzae isolates for which typing was performed at MDH, eight (15%) were type f, five (9%) were type b, four (8%) were type e, two (4%) were type c, and 34 (64%) were untypeable. Isolates from four cases were not available for typing.

Five cases of type b (Hib) disease occurred in 2003, compared to one case in 2002 and one case in 2001. The Hib cases reported in 2003 occurred in two case-patients <1 year old and three >50 years old. An 11- month-old infant had received one dose of Hib vaccine; a 9-month-old infant had not been vaccinated. Four out of the five cases had significant underlying medical conditions. Of the five cases of Hib, two had pneumonia, one had epiglottitis, one had cellulitis, and one had bacteremia without another focus of infection. All patients survived.

The eight deaths occurred in patients ranging in age from newborn to 87 years. Five case-patients presented with pneumonia, and three with bacteremia without another focus of infection. All eight case-patients had H. influenzae isolated from blood and seven had underlying medical conditions. The isolate from one of the deceased case-patients was type c; the seven other deceased case patients had untypeable isolates.

• For up to date information see>> Haemophilus influenzae (invasive disease)
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2003