Background:
Haemophilus influenzae are normal flora in upper respiratory tract. In sputum, most H. influenzqae are serologically nontypeable and biologically type II or III. In a multicenter study, bacteremic H. influenzae infection were most of ten due
to
nontypeable strain, in addition, invasive disease due to nontypeable H. influenzae strain has been reported with increasing frequency in presons with underlying lung disease, alcoholism, debilitated patients and the elderly.
Methods:
The authors evaluated 158 strains isolated from sputum at Korea University Guro Hospital from March, 1992 to February, 1993 and reviewed charts of 104 patients.
Results :
On serotyping, 91% of isolates are nontypeable and on biotyping, type II is most common. Forry percent of the patients were over 60 years old and 62% of patients had underlying lung diseases. 41% of the isolates were β-lactamase positive by
cefinase disk methed.
Conclusions:
To increase the culture rate of invasive H. influenzae in elderly and immunecompromized people, Gram stain and blind subculture on chocolate agar of sputum, bronchial washing, blood and CSF are necessary.
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