Spectrum of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in adults

Article Abstract:

Infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria are a significant cause of illness and death among young children. The infection can cause meningitis and can lead to epiglottitis, swelling and closure of the airway. Vaccines now provide effective protection for children against the disease. Adults are usually protected against this infection by antibodies which recognize the bacteria. However, this immunity may decline with age or due to disease, such as cancer, lung disease, or alcoholism. To better identify adults at risk for H. influenzae type b disease, the characteristics of the 31 adults in Finland who contracted the infection over a 3.5-year period were evaluated. Thirteen patients had septicemia (systemic bacterial infection), seven had pneumonia, six had epiglottitis, three developed meningitis, and two had arthritis. The overall mortality was 26 percent, with five deaths occurring among those with septicemia, two among those with pneumonia, and one in a patient with epiglottitis. Seventeen patients were male, and the average age was 53 years, but all patients with epiglottitis were female, and all but two were under 36 years old. Except for patients with epiglottitis, most had predisposing conditions such as alcoholism, cancer, lung disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, recent surgery, pregnancy, or AIDS. These disorders are associated with defective immunity and were more prevalent among those who developed septicemia or pneumonia. The young women with epiglottitis likely represent those to whom bacteria were transmitted by their children. The results suggest that adults with these severe diseases would benefit most from vaccination against H. influenzae type b, and would be most likely to benefit from vaccination with influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Risk factors, Demographic aspects, Hemophilus infections, Hemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus influenzae

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Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal infections in children in Finland

Article Abstract:

The incidence of invasive infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae may be high among Finnish children. Invasive infections are those that have spread to the blood and other parts of the body. Among Finnish children between 0 and 15 years old, 452 were diagnosed with an invasive pneumococcal infection between 1985 and 1989. Sixty-nine percent of the children were suffering from bacteremia, or the presence of bacteria in the circulating blood, 15% from pneumonia and 11% from meningitis. The majority of children had an infection caused by the six, seven, 14, 18, 19 or 23 pneumococcal subtype or group. Development of a vaccine against these types or groups of Streptococcus pneumoniae could prevent up to 70% of the invasive pneumococcal infections that occur among Finnish children.

Health aspects, Finland, Infection, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Communicable diseases in children, Pediatric communicable diseases

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