[Microbiological diagnosis of epiglottitis]

Forty patients, between July 1977 and April 1982, with clinical diagnosis of epiglottitis were studied for the presence of capsular antigen by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and for positive blood culture. Blood culture was positive, for Haemophilus influenzae only, in 15 patients. Haemophilus influenzae type b antigen was present in blood and/or urine of 25 patients (blood 14 patients, urine 18 patients). CIE associated with blood culture give conclusive proofs of Haemophilus influenzae etiology in 30 patients.