Haemophilus influenzae Bacteremia and Pneumonia: A Case Report

This study reports a case of respiratory failure and pneumonia attributed to infection from a confirmed case of Haemophilus influenzae in a patient with past medical history of interstitial lung disease following a COVID-19 infection. An 88-year-old man with significant past medical history of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and self-catheterization due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) presented to the ED with shortness of breath and cough. Examination revealed reduced respiratory effort and scattered rhonchi throughout the lung fields. Urine cultures were positive for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli. In addition, blood cultures and chest X-ray findings confirmed a case of H. influenzae bacteremia and pneumonia. The following case highlights the unusual finding of invasive H. influenzae disease and corresponds with the data provided by the Active Bacterial Core surveillance supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).