Bacteremic hemophilus influenzae type B cellulitis in the adult

Described herein are three patients over the age of 50 years who had cellulitis of the neck and the upper portion of the chest, associated with Hemophilus influenzae type B bacteremia and respiratory tract infection--particularly that of the upper airway. Only one of the patients with cellulitis had the classic bluish-purple hue commonly seen in children affected with this syndrome. In the other two, the H. influenzae type B cellulitis could not be distinguished clinically from the more common group A streptococcal or staphylococcal cellulitis. Since the antibiotics employed in treating patients with infection due to the latter two organisms differ significantly from those used to treat patients with H. influenzae type B infection, the possibility of disease due to H. influenzae type B must be considered in any adult or child in whom cellulitis of the neck, chest and possibly face is associated with a respiratory tract infection, especially of the upper airway.