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Hemophilus infection
Last reviewed: 19.11.2021
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Hemophilus infection is an acute anthroponous infectious disease with an aerosol mechanism of transmission of the pathogen, which is characterized by a predominant lesion of the respiratory tract and the membranes of the brain.
Haemophilus sp causes a huge number of moderate and serious infections, including bacteremia, meningitis, otitis media, cellulite and epiglottitis. Diagnosis of hemophilia is based on culture and serotyping. Treatment of hemophilic infection is carried out with antibiotics.
ICD-10 codes
- A41.3. Septicemia caused by Haemophilus influenzae (Afanasyev-Pfeiffer's stick).
- A49.3. Infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae, unspecified.
- B96.3. Haemophilus influenzae as the cause of the disease, classified elsewhere.
- J14. Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae.
What causes a hemophilia infection?
Hemophilus infection is caused by several pathogenic species of Haemophilus, the most common of which is Haemophilus influenzae. The latter has 6 encapsulated strains (a-f) and an innumerable set of unencapsulated, non-typeable strains. Prior to the use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugated vaccine, most cases of serious invasive diseases were caused by type b Haemophilus influenzae, which causes many childhood infections, including meningitis, bacteremia, septic arthritis, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, otitis media, conjunctivitis, sinusitis and acute epiglottitis. These infections, as well as endocarditis can develop in adults, although much less often. These diseases are discussed in the relevant articles. In some cases, unencapsulated strains cause invasive diseases.
What are the symptoms of a hemophilic infection?
Haemophilus influenzae, serogype of aegurticus, can cause mucopurulent conjunctivitis and bacteremic Brazilian purple fever. Haemophilus ducreyi causes mild chancroid. Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Haemophilus aphrophilus are rare causes of bacteremia, endocarditis and brain abscess.
Many Haemophilus are normal flora of the upper respiratory tract and diseases are rare. Pathogenic strains enter the upper respiratory tract through airborne suspensions or by direct contact. The spread of infection occurs rapidly in non-immune populations. Children have a high risk for developing serious infections, especially black boys and Native Americans. Living in places of large concentrations of people, visiting kindergartens predispose to the development of infection. Immunodeficiency conditions, aspiration and sickle cell anemia also predispose to infection.
How is hemophilia diagnosed?
Diagnosis of hemophilia is based on a culture of blood and biological fluids. The strains responsible for the invasive disease are to be serotyped.
What do need to examine?
How is hemophilia treated?
Treatment of hemophilic infection depends on the nature and location of the infection, but invasive forms of infection use doxycycline, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins of the 2nd and 3rd generations, and carbapenems. The use of Hib vaccine significantly reduced the incidence of bacteremia. Children with serious forms of infection are to be hospitalized with respiratory and contact isolation within 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy. The choice of antibiotic depends on the focus of the infection and requires the determination of MO sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. Many isolates of this MO in the US produce beta-lactamase. When invasive form of infection, including meningitis, it is recommended to use cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. With less serious forms of infection, oral cephalosporins, macrolides and amoxicillin-clavulonate are usually effective.
How is Haemophilus Infection Prevented?
Hib-conjugated inoculation against hemophilic infection can be used in children older than 2 months. This vaccine reduces the likelihood of invasive infections, such as meningitis, bacteremia and epiglottitis, by 99%. Primary series of vaccinations are prescribed at 2, 4 and 6 months, or at 2 and 4 months, depending on the manufacturer of the vaccine. The booster dose is indicated at the age of 12-15 months.
In-farm contacts can lead to asymptomatic carriage of Haemophilus influenzae. Nonimmunized or partially immunized contact persons under the age of 4 years have a high risk of developing the disease, and therefore should receive a dose of the vaccine. In addition, all members of the household (excluding pregnant women) should receive drug preventive medication, for which rifampin 600 mg (20 mg / kg for children) is administered orally once a day for 4 days. Contacts of attendants or contacts inside the kindergarten should receive drug prevention if 60 or more cases of invasive infection are detected within 60 days. The need to use medicinal prophylaxis in case of 1 case of the disease is not proved.