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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice
10:47

Using Bioluminescent Imaging to Investigate Synergism Between Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus in Infant Mice

Published on: April 14, 2011

[Two cases of meningitis caused by the same Haemophilus influenzae type B strain in a nursery at a 3-month interval]

Katsuaki A Abe1, Naruhiko Ishiwada, Tadashi Hoshino

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Chiba Children' s Hospital.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi. the Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
|March 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Two infants contracted Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis from the same strain in a nursery. Chemoprophylaxis failed to eliminate Hib carriage, highlighting the need for Hib vaccination.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis.
  • Nursery settings present unique challenges for controlling infectious disease transmission.

Observation:

  • Two cases of Hib meningitis occurred in a nursery within three months, caused by an identical strain.
  • Asymptomatic nasopharyngeal carriers were identified during both outbreaks.
  • Chemoprophylaxis with oral rifampin was ineffective in eradicating Hib carriage in some individuals.

Findings:

  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed the genetic identity between strains from meningitis patients and asymptomatic carriers.
  • Patients treated with beta-lactams recovered fully without sequelae.
  • Hib carriage is difficult to eliminate through chemoprophylaxis alone.

Implications:

  • Nursery outbreaks of Hib meningitis pose a high risk for secondary infections among infants.
  • The ineffectiveness of chemoprophylaxis underscores the critical need for widespread Hib vaccination.
  • Vaccination is essential to prevent systemic Hib infections in vulnerable populations, particularly in Japan where vaccination rates may be suboptimal.

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