EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INVASIVE HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE DISEASE IN A GERMAN CITY

This study was done to analyze the epidemiology of invasive Haemophilu s influenzae disease in Bochum city area. Forty-eight children with in vasive Haemophilus inflenzae infections were treated at the University Children's Hospital in Bochum during the study period from January 19 71 to June 1992. Clinical manifestations included meningitis (n = 34), epiglottitis (n = 8), pneumonia (n = 2), bacteremia (n = 2), cellulit is (n = 1) and osteomyelitis (n = 1). The overall yearly incidence rat e for all invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections was 13 per 100 00 0 children younger than five years of age, with a marked increase in t he last six years. Haemophilus influenzae meningitis showed no signifi cant change during the study period with an overall yearly incidence o f 9 per 100 000 children younger than five years. Twenty-eight cases ( 58%) of all invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections occurred in pat ients under two years of age and five cases (10%) were younger than si x months. Invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease showed no seasonal p revalence. All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin. No deaths occu rred, but severe bilateral deafness resulted in one patient with menin gitis. Prospective epidemiologic studies are needed to estimate clinic al efficacy of the Haemophilus influenza type b immunization program i n Germany.