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Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae
Published on: June 29, 2021
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Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi)
Lauren O Bakaletz1, Laura A Novotny1
1Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Columbus, OH, USA.
Trends in Microbiology
|May 26, 2018
Summary
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) causes invasive diseases and otitis media, leading to significant mortality. Vaccine development is crucial for combating NTHi infections and antibiotic resistance, as highlighted by the rise of resistant strains.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a significant pathogen causing invasive diseases and otitis media (OM).
- While Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines reduced invasive Hib disease, they do not protect against NTHi infections.
- NTHi is now a leading cause of invasive disease in Hib-vaccinated areas and contributes to substantial OM-related deaths globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss diseases caused by NTHi, including otitis media.
- To highlight the growing threat of NTHi due to vaccine-induced selection and antibiotic resistance.
- To emphasize the urgent need for NTHi vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Infographic presentation of disease burden and resistance patterns.
- Review of historical impact of Hib vaccines on H. influenzae epidemiology.
- Discussion of antibiotic resistance trends, including β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) strains.
Main Results:
- NTHi is the primary cause of invasive H. influenzae disease in regions with high Hib vaccine uptake.
- NTHi is associated with approximately 21,000 otitis media-related deaths annually.
- Emergence and spread of ampicillin-resistant NTHi, particularly BLNAR strains, pose a significant public health challenge.
Conclusions:
- Concerted efforts in NTHi vaccine development are underway due to global morbidity and mortality.
- An effective NTHi vaccine could mitigate the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
- H. influenzae, particularly NTHi, is recognized as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization.
