Haemophilus influenzae Invasive Disease, 2019

One hundred twenty invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease cases (2.14 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2019. Cases ranged in age from newborn to 99 years (median 66 years). Allowing for more than one syndrome per case, 68 (54%) cases had pneumonia, 31 (25%) bacteremia, 9 (7%) meningitis, 3 (2%) empyema, 2 (2%) septic arthritis, 2 (2%) endophthalmitis 2 (2%) otitis media, and the following each had 1 (1%): cellulitis, conjunctivitis, cholangitis, endometritis, epiglottitis, septic shock, and uveitis. Fourteen (12%) cases died.

Of 116 H. influenzae isolates for which typing was performed at PHL, 20 were type a, 3 type b (Hib), 4 type e, 7 type f, and 82 were untypeable. The 3 Hib disease cases compared to 1 case in 2018, 2 cases in 2017, 5 in 2016, 2 in 2015, and 1 in 2014. One case was a child 1 year of age, who had meningitis and died. The child had not received Hib vaccinations. Another was in a child <1 year of age, who had pneumonia, cellulitis, and otitis media, and survived. This child was also unvaccinated. The third case was a 35 year-old who had meningitis and survived.

The 14 deaths occurred in patients ranging in age from newborn to 95 years. Seven cases had pneumonia, 4 had bacteremia without another focus of infection, 2 had meningitis, and 1 was extremely premature. Thirteen had H. influenzae isolated from blood and one from placenta. Co-morbidities were reported in all of them. Of the 14 that died, there was 1 case-isolate serotype b, 1 case-isolate serotype a, 1 case-isolate serotype e, 1 case-isolate serotype f, 9 case-isolates were untypeable, and 1 isolate was not available for serotyping.

• Find up to date information at>> Haemophilus influenzae (invasive disease)
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2019