Haemophilus influenzae septicaemia in the neonate: Report of two cases and review of the English literature

Abstract

Two neonates with early onset respiratory illness were found to have Haemophilus influenzae septicaemia. One of them died. A review of the English literature showed that Haemophilus influenzae septicaemia is increasing in incidence. Almost all cases presented with respiratory distress in the first 2 days. Other associated features included meningitis, arthritis, conjunctivitis and cellulitis. The mortality, which averaged 52%, was high, especially in premature babies. The septicaemia was caused by ascending infection from the colonized maternal birth canal, and most cases were caused by nontypable strains of Haemophilus influenzae. Because of the occurrence of ampicillin or chloramphenicol resistance, a third generation cephalosporin is the treatment of choice for known cases of serious infection.

Haemophilus influenzae: a potent perinatal pathogen disproportionately isolated from Indigenous women and their neonates

“…The prognosis at our hospital (4% neonatal mortality) was not as poor as some figures quoted in the literature. Original estimates of a fatality rate of 52% for neonatal NTHi infection were probably distorted by publication bias . In one case series, 7 liveborn of 27 infected mother–baby pairs (26%) died .…”

“…Strains lacking a polysaccharide capsule are referred to as nontypeable . Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a recognised maternal and neonatal pathogen; however, literature on the subject largely consists of either multicentre surveillance data of invasive Hi isolates, or case series of obstetric or neonatal infection . Integrated clinical data of maternal and neonatal NTHi presentations are lacking.…”