PROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF INVASIVE HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE DISEASE IN ADULTS

The incidence and characteristics of invasive Haemophilus influenzae d isease were studied in 43 adult patients admitted to the acute care ho spitals in El Valles County (Barcelona, Spain) between January 1987 an d June 1992, The annual incidence of Haemophilus influenzae disease wa s 1.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. Pneumonia occurred in 24 patients, meni ngitis in five, intraabdominal infections in three, obstetric infectio ns in two, epiglottitis in two and cellulitis in one. In six patients the source of infection was unknown. Ten (23 %) of the infections were hospital acquired. Underlying conditions were diagnosed in 30 (70 %) patients. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strains predominated in a ll adult age groups. Sixty-one percent of type b and 34 % of nontypeab le strains were ampicillin resistant (p = 0.08). Multiple antibiotic r esistance was also high among type b (53 %) and nontypeable (18 %) str ains. The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with pne umonia, bactaeremia from an unidentified focus or shock at presentatio n.