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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
Assessing Respiratory Immune Responses to Haemophilus Influenzae
Published on: June 29, 2021
Haemophilus influenzae bacteremia: A 5-year (2016-2020) retrospective study analysing the clinical and laboratory
Jutang Babat Ain Tiewsoh1, Parakriti Gupta2, Archana Angrup2
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India; Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata 700010, West Bengal, India.
Abstract:
Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) causes invasive disease like bacteremia which is rarely diagnosed. We conducted this retrospective study of H. influenzae bacteremia diagnosed between January 2016 and December 2020. Nineteen patients were identified. Majority were children ≤5 years of age (84.2%), inpatients (89.5%), males (78.9%) and admitted in ICUs (26.6%). The most common underlying primary diagnosis was malignancy. These isolates were most susceptible to carbapenems (100%) followed by cefotaxime (83.3%) and ampicillin (82.4%). The overall mortality rate was 33.3%. Increased mortality resulted in those admitted in ICUs with H. influenzae bacteremia episode along with polymicrobial/co-isolates infection.
Insights
Haemophilus influenzae bacteremia is a rare but serious invasive infection, predominantly affecting young children. Mortality is high, especially in intensive care unit patients with co-infections.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) is a significant pathogen capable of causing severe invasive diseases.
- Invasive H. influenzae infections, such as bacteremia, are infrequently diagnosed despite their potential severity.
- Understanding the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of H. influenzae bacteremia is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively investigate the clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcomes of H. influenzae bacteremia.
- To identify risk factors associated with mortality in patients with H. influenzae bacteremia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of H. influenzae bacteremia cases diagnosed between January 2016 and December 2020.
- Data collection included patient demographics, clinical characteristics, underlying diagnoses, and microbiological data.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on isolated strains.
Main Results:
- Nineteen cases of H. influenzae bacteremia were identified.
- The majority of affected patients were young children (≤5 years, 84.2%), inpatients (89.5%), males (78.9%), and admitted to ICUs (26.6%).
- Malignancy was the most common underlying diagnosis. Isolates showed high susceptibility to carbapenems (100%), cefotaxime (83.3%), and ampicillin (82.4%).
- The overall mortality rate was 33.3%, with increased mortality observed in ICU patients and those with polymicrobial infections.
Conclusions:
- Haemophilus influenzae bacteremia, though rare, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in vulnerable pediatric populations.
- Prompt recognition and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are essential.
- Intensive care unit admission and co-infections are associated with poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring and management.
