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Invasive H. influenzae disease still a burden in US
Macneil JR. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;53:1230-1236.
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Widespread use of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines have resulted in a significant overall decline in invasive H. influenzae disease. However, a recent study reported that a considerable burden of non-type b H. influenzae disease is still present in the youngest and oldest age groups.
From 1989 to 2008, more than 7,500 cases of H. influenzae disease were reported from Active Bacterial Core surveillance sites. The estimated mean annual incidence of H. influenzae infection was 1.62 cases/100,000 population from 1999 to 2008. Of those, 15.3% of cases were fatal.
The incidence was higher among adults aged at least 65 years vs. other age groups. The largest burden of disease among children was in infants aged younger than 1 year. Many of these cases occurred during the first month of life in preterm or low birth weight infants. An estimated 10% of the total burden of disease among children aged younger than 5 years occurred in American Indian and Alaska Native children.
The study researchers said there were small increases in the incidence of serotypes A, E and F from 1989 to 2008, with the largest increase seen in serotype F in patients aged at least 18 years.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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