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Antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae in the serum
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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The influenza bacillus ( Haemophilus influenzae ) infects only humans and is localized primarily in the upper respiratory tract. Over the past 30-45 years, the incidence of systemic forms of infection caused by the influenza bacillus type b has increased fourfold, and cases of infection in adults have become more frequently recognized. Isolation of the influenza bacillus in bacteriological cultures from the nasopharynx has no diagnostic value due to the widespread carriage of the bacillus among healthy people (90%). To diagnose the infection, blood, urine, pleural and joint fluids, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. are examined.
For serological diagnostics of diseases caused by bacillary influenza, agglutination and precipitation reactions are used. Determination of antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae in serum is a retrospective method of diagnosing the disease, since it is necessary to examine the serum in the first week of the disease and after 10-14 days. An increase in the antibody titer after 10-14 days by at least 4 times when examining paired sera is considered diagnostic.
Determination of antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae is used to diagnose infections in the following diseases:
- chronic purulent inflammatory diseases of the lungs (bronchiectasis, lung abscess, pneumonia);
- meningitis;
- septic arthritis, cellulitis, epiglottitis.
RIA and ELISA methods can be used to select patients for vaccination against influenza b and to assess its effectiveness.
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