Related Experiment Videos
Haemophilus parainfluenzae infections in children, with the report of a unique case
C T Black1, J P Kupferschmid, K W West
1Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
Insights
Haemophilus parainfluenzae, a common human commensal, can cause serious pediatric infections like meningitis and abscesses. This organism should be recognized as a potential pathogen due to emerging antibiotic resistance and its ability to affect healthy children.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Bacteriology
Background:
- Haemophilus parainfluenzae is typically a human commensal bacterium.
- Its pathogenic potential, especially in pediatric populations, is infrequently reported.
- This study investigates the spectrum and significance of H. parainfluenzae infections in children.
Observation:
- A case of pediatric hepatic abscess caused by H. parainfluenzae was analyzed.
- A literature review identified 54 additional significant pediatric infections attributed to H. parainfluenzae.
- Common infections included meningitis and endocarditis, affecting diverse patient groups.
Findings:
- Localized abscesses (brain, skin, joints, liver) were also observed.
- Identified risk factors and preceding illnesses were variable.
- The overall mortality rate was 11%, with a combined morbidity/mortality rate of 38%.
Implications:
- H. parainfluenzae can cause severe disease in immunocompetent children.
- Past misdiagnoses may be linked to identification challenges.
- Emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains necessitates increased clinical awareness and consideration of H. parainfluenzae as a pathogen.
Abstract:
Haemophilus parainfluenzae, although a human commensal, is infrequently reported to be pathogenic. A child with a hepatic abscess caused by this organism was studied, and 54 other significant pediatric infections associated with H. parainfluenzae, as reported in the English-language literature, were reviewed. Meningitis and endocarditis were the most frequently reported infections and affected dissimilar populations of patients. Localized abscesses of the brain, skin, joints, and liver also occurred. Risk factors and antecedent illnesses were occasionally identified. The overall mortality rate was 11%, and the combined rates of morbidity and mortality totaled 38%. Difficulty in identifying H. parainfluenzae may have resulted in misdiagnosis of infections caused by this organism in the past. Antibiotic-resistant strains have emerged. Because H. parainfluenzae is ubiquitous and can cause serious disease in otherwise normal patients, it should be considered a pathogen, and its potential for causing pediatric illness should be more fully appreciated.