Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease

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Indiana had 33 reported cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease in 2000. Cases ranged in age from newborn to 91 years, with a median age of 61 years and a mean of 52 years. Seventeen cases (51.5%) had bacteremia without another focus of infection, 12 cases (36.4%) had pneumonia, and one case (3.0%) had meningitis. Four deaths (12.1%) were reported. 

Three (9.1%) of the cases were serotype b, which is the only vaccine-preventable type. Table Hi1 presents a breakdown of cases by serotype. 

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is preventable through a three- or four-dose vaccination series for children ages 0-4 years. One of the three type b cases occurred in a 7-month-old infant who had received two doses of Hib vaccine on schedule. The remaining two type b cases occurred in a 39- and a 72-year-old. Prior to the licensure of Hib vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. Since the introduction of Hib vaccine in the late 1980s, the incidence of Hib disease  in children has decreased dramatically. From 1996-2000, the mean number of Hib cases in children age 5 or less is 1.2 cases per year (Figure Hi1). 

In 2000, of the 33 cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae reported, 31 (93.9%) were serotyped. Efforts must continue to ensure that all invasive isolates are serotyped to determine if type b illness is present. 

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