Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease, 2006

Ninety-eight cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease (1.9 per 100,000) were reported in 2006. Case-patients ranged in age from newborn to 96 years (median, 58 years). Thirty-eight (39%) case-patients had pneumonia, 39 (40%) had bacteremia without another focus of infection, 10 (10%) had meningitis, and 11 (11%) had other conditions. Twelve (12%) deaths were reported among these case-patients.

Of 86 H. influenzae isolates for which typing was performed at MDH, 23 (27%) were type f, seven (8%) type e, four (5%) type b, three (3%) type a, two (2%) type c, and 47 (55%) were untypeable.

Four cases of type b (Hib) disease occurred in 2006, compared to one case in 2005, two cases in 2004, and five cases in 2003. Two of the 2006 Hib cases occurred in children <5 years of age: an 8-month-old had not received the Hib vaccination, and a 12- month-old received only one vaccination. One of the children had cellulitis and the other had pneumonia. Of the two adult cases, one had pneumonia and one had bacteremia, but both had significant underlying illness. All of the case-patients survived.

The 12 deaths occurred in patients ranging in age from 18 to 88 years. Five case-patients presented with pneumonia, five with bacteremia without another focus of infection, one with meningitis, and one with a urinary tract infection. Eleven case-patients had H. influenzae isolated from blood and one from cerebral spinal fluid. Eight had significant underlying medical conditions. Of the 12 case-patients who died, seven case-isolates were untypeable isolates, three were serotype f, and two were not available from the hospital lab.

• For up to date information see>> Haemophilus influenzae (invasive disease)
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2006