Haemophilus influenzae infection

Haemophilus influenzae infection Main page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Pneumonia Bacteremia Meningitis Epiglottitis Cellulitis arthritis Otitis media Conjunctivitis
Pathophysiology

This page is about clinical aspects of the disease.  For microbiologic aspects of the causative organism(s), see Haemophilus influenzae.

For patient information about Haemophilus influenzae infection, click here | Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, click here.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Synonyms and keywords: Hib disease

H influenza infection

Overview

H.influenzae is a type of bacteria that can cause infections in people of all ages ranging from mild, such as an ear infection, to severe, such as a bloodstream infection.

Causes

• Haemophilus influenza disease is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus influenza.
• There are six identifiable types of H.influenza (a through f) and other non-identifiable types (called nontypeable) based on their distinct capsular antigens
• H. influenza type b is the most common type of H.influeza.
• These bacteria are a normal commensal of throat and nose. However, the bacteria can sometimes move to other parts of the body and cause infection.
• Some of these infections are considered “invasive” and can be very serious.

Classification

H. influenzae, including Hib, can cause many different kinds of infections. These infections can range from mild ear infections to severe diseases, like bloodstream infections. When the bacteria invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs, like spinal fluid or blood, this is known as "invasive disease." Invasive disease is usually severe and can sometimes result in death.
The most common types of invasive disease caused by H.influenza are:

• Pneumonia
• Bacteremia
• Meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord)
• Epiglottitis (swelling of the windpipe that can cause breathing trouble)
• Cellulitis (skin infection)
• Infectious arthritis (inflammation of the joint)

The most common types of non-invasive disease caused by H.influenza are:

• Otitis media
• Conjuctivitis

H influenza infection

Infection due to capsulated H influenza

Infection due to non-capsulated H influenza

Meningitis

Cellulitis

Epiglottitis

Pneumonia

Pericarditis

Septic arthritis

otitis media

Conjunctivitis

Pathophysiology

Transmission

• Transmission is by direct contact or by inhalation of respiratory tract droplets.
• Neonates can acquire the infection by aspiration of amniotic fluid or contact with genital tract secretions containing the bacteria.

Incubation period

The incubation period (time between exposure and first symptoms) of H. influenzae disease is not certain, but could be as short as a few days.

Seeding

• A larger bacterial load or the presence of a concomitant viral infection can potentiate the infection.
• The colonizing bacteria invade the mucosa and enter the bloodstream.
• The spread of bacteria by direct extension to the eustachian tubes causes otitis media.
• Spread to the sinuses leads to sinusitis.
• Spread down the respiratory tract results in bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction, antecedent viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), foreign bodies, and mucosal irritants, including smoking, can promote infection.
• In patients with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis (CF), NTHi frequently colonizes the lower respiratory tract and can exacerbate the disease.

Pathogenesis

• The capsule of H influenza plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the all the capsulated H influenza infections.
• The antiphagocytic nature of the Hib capsule makes it resistant to natural host phagocytic defense mechanisms and facilitating bacterial proliferation.
• After proliferation, the bacterial load disseminates to various sites, including meninges, subcutaneous tissue, joints, pleura, pericardiam, and lungs triggering an inflammatory response and subsequently activating the complement system.
• Capsulated H influenza can penetrate the normal epithelium and are therefore responsible for invasive infections.
• Non-capsulated are non-invasive but can still induce the inflammatory response similar to that of capsulated organisms
• The Hib conjugate vaccine induces protection by inducing antibodies against the PRP capsule.
• The Hib conjugate vaccine does not provide protection against Non-typable H influenza strains. Since the widespread use of the Hib conjugate vaccine, Non-typable H influenza strains has become more of a pathogen