Haemophilus influenzae (1)

Photo )  H. influenzae are observed inside of white blood cells.

               (Dr.Rebecca Buxton, Department of Pathology, University of Utah)

Photo ) H. influenzae in the sputum .

            (Dr. Rebecca Buxton, Department of Pathology, University of Utah)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haemophilus influenzae

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This bacteria( = Pfeiffer's bacilli) once thought to be a cause of  influenza(=Flu).

i) Microscopic findings: round or lods in shape, Gram stain(-)

                                       

ii)Type: divided into non-capsular type and capsular type.

             Capsular type:  Serovar (5 types; a, b, c, d, e, f )

                  ✭ type b is predominant, especially in acute meningitis and epiglottis.

iii) Type of diseases in childhood:

                   1) common cold: no data is  available.

                   2) otitis media:  non-capsular type is common.

                   3) acute epiglottis: very few in Japan.

                   4) bronchitis & pneumonia: non-capsular type is common.

                   5) meningitis: type b is dominant in Japan.

iv) Prevention: inactivated vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b 

                        is available.

Any questions:  write to Keiji Hagiwara, MD

                         E-mail: keijihagiwara@gmail.com