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 Haemophilus Influenzae, previously called Bacillus infleunzae or Pfeiffer's Bacillus can be described as a gram-negative coccobacilli bacterium. This microorganism was first described by Richard Pfeiffer in the year 1892, around the time of an influenza pandemic. This bacterium belongs to the Pasteurellaceae family and is aerobic; however, it can also grow as a facultative anaerobe.

Contrary to their name, the Haemophilus Influenzae bacteria do not cause influenza. However, they can lead to severe infections, especially in infants, toddlers and children below the age of 5. These bacteria are not only capable of causing a permanent disability, they can also be fatal. There are 6 identifiable strains of Haemophilus Influenzae bacteria and these include Type A through Type F. The bacteria that people are most familiar with are the Type B Haemophilus Influenzae, also known as Hib.

The wide range of clinical diseases that can be caused by Haemophilus Influenzae include:

• Pneumonia, infection in the lung
• Meningitis, infection in the brain covering and spinal cord
• Bacteremia, infection in the bloodstream
• Pericarditis, infection in the lining that surrounds the heart
• Epiglottitis, infection in the epiglottis (the flap covering the entrance of the windpipe)
• Cellulitis, infection in the skin and its underlying tissues
• Septic arthritis, infection in the joints
• Osteomyelitis, infection in the bone and bone marrow
  

Individuals may experience different symptoms, depending upon the type of infection and the body part that is affected. Some of the more common symptoms of a Haemophilus Influenzae infection include:

• Anxiety
• Chills
• Confusion or altered mental state
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headaches
• Muscle ache
• Nausea
• Pain in the chest
• Perspiring
• Photophobia or increased sensitivity to light
• Shortness of breath
• Stiff neck
• Stomachache
• Vomiting
  

Some of the symptoms of this infection seen in infants and children include:

• Lethargy
• Irritability
• Poor feeding
• Vomiting
  

The treatment for Haemophilus Influenza usually involves a 10-day antibiotic course. Since the bacteria produce beta-lactamases and can modify its penicillin-building proteins, they have become resistant to the penicillin family of antibiotics. Therefore, the less severe cases are generally treated with a combination of ampicillin and sulbactam, flouroquinolones and cephalosporins. For severe cases, ceftriaxone or cefotaxime are directly delivered into the bloodstream. People who are allergic to beta-lactam antibiotics may be prescribed macrolide antibiotics. If the bacteria invade those parts of the body that are normally germ-free, patients may need to be hospitalized.

Vaccines are available for the prevention of diseases caused by Hib; however, there is no vaccine for the other types of Haemophilus Influenzae bacteria. It is highly recommended that all children under the age of 5 get vaccinated against Hib.

References

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15736015

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