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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
Haemophilus influenzae septic abortion
Thomas L Cherpes1, Shimon Kusne, Sharon L Hillier
1Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. tomcherpes@hotmail.com
Background:
Haemophilus influenzae septic abortion is typically caused by nontypeable strains of the organism. Furthermore, nontypeable species with a special affinity for the genital tract are the most frequent isolates encountered, and an ascending vaginal or cervical infection is often the suspected route of transmission.
Case:
A 39-year-old woman at 8 weeks gestation who underwent dilation, evacuation, and curettage for embryonic demise had clinical evidence for sepsis and isolation of a nontypeable, ampicillin resistant H. influenzae from blood cultures. Although an ascending vaginal infection was suspected, the route of transmission was not determined.
Conclusion:
Nontypeable strains of. H. influenzae have demonstrated increased beta-lactamase activity, and ampicillin, formerly the treatment of choice, should be used only if isolate susceptibility is known.
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