"Pulmonary haemophilus influenzae (Hi) infection refers to infection of lung with Haemophilus influenzae, a small gram-negative cocco-bacillus."
"Haemophilus (from the Greek, ‘blood-loving’) requires erythrocyte factors for growth. Haemophilus influenzae was first isolated in the 1890s and was so named because it was erroneously thought to be the cause of the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic (viruses were unknown before the 1930s)."
"The organism frequently colonises the human upper respiratory tract, especially the nasopharynx, and is considered to form part of the normal respiratory flora. Most H. influenzae pneumonias are the result of direct extension from the nasopharynx to the lower respiratory tract."
"Encapsulated (typeable) strains such as serotype b (Hib) and, increasingly, serotype a (Hia) cause invasive disease such as bacteraemic pneumonia, especially in children and immunocompromised adults 5 . Historically, H. influenzae type b (Hib), the most virulent strain, was the cause of ~95% of invasive disease. The Hib polysaccharide capsule is the main virulence factor of this strain. Conjugate vaccine has reduced the incidence of Hib, almost eliminating Hib meningitis."
"Non-invasive CAP has a good prognosis however H. influenzae pneumonia can progress to invasive disease, with a case-fatality rate for invasive Hia pneumonia around 7-8% 5. Bacteraemia can lead to sepsis, empyema, pericarditis, endocarditis, peritonitis, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis."
"These common infections can exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and are a common cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia (CAP and HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Risk factors for pneumonia include age over 65 years, smoking, chronic lung disease, alcohol use, diabetes and heart disease."
"molecular methods such as PCR or 16S rRNA sequencing"
"Since, non-encapsulated (non-typeable, NTHi) strains have become the most common pathogenic strains in vaccinated populations and they commonly colonise the nasopharynx. They form biofilms, a structural barrier to antibiotics. Various infectious manifestations occur either by contiguous non-invasive spread (e.g. otitis media, sinusitis and pneumonia without bacteraemia) or invasive disease involving sterile sites. Invasive disease usually begins with bacteraemia which can lead to sepsis, meningitis, empyema, etc."
"These common infections can exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and are a common cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia (CAP and HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Risk factors for pneumonia include age over 65 years, smoking, chronic lung disease, alcohol use, diabetes and heart disease."
"acute onset of fever, chills and rigors"
"Non-invasive CAP has a good prognosis however H. influenzae pneumonia can progress to invasive disease, with a case-fatality rate for invasive Hia pneumonia around 7-8% 5. Bacteraemia can lead to sepsis, empyema, pericarditis, endocarditis, peritonitis, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis."
"Encapsulated (typeable) strains such as serotype b (Hib) and, increasingly, serotype a (Hia) cause invasive disease such as bacteraemic pneumonia, especially in children and immunocompromised adults 5 . Historically, H. influenzae type b (Hib), the most virulent strain, was the cause of ~95% of invasive disease. The Hib polysaccharide capsule is the main virulence factor of this strain. Conjugate vaccine has reduced the incidence of Hib, almost eliminating Hib meningitis."