Pathogens
Haemophilus influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae

Precautions

See 'Additional Information'

General Information

Small gram negative bacillus, encapsulated or not (non=non-typeable).

Normal respiratory flora.

Invasive disease sharply declined after Hib conjugate vaccine widely used, especially in children <5yrs old who were the main victims.

Most invasive disease is now caused by non-typeable strains.

Colonizer of the upper respiratory tract.

May cause invasive disease including:

  • Meningitis
  • Pneumonia/empyema
  • Bacteremia
  • Epiglottitis
  • MSK infection
  • Others

Droplet precautions if presentation is epiglottitis and or patient is incapacitated or cognitively unable to self contain (i.e. cover mouth when coughing, wash hands etc.); Droplet precautions for all pediatrics patients – it is assumed kids have a harder time self containing (i.e. covering mouth etc.) and therefore droplet precautions recommended.

Once patient has been on appropriate antibiotics for 24 hours they can be de-escalated from droplet to routine precautions.