Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae invasive disease in Jamaica, 1990-1993

Haemophillus influenzae (H influenzae) invasive disease was studied retrosp ectively over a four-year period in children admitted to the Bustamante Hos pital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica. A total of 86 cases were identifie d. The mean estimated annual incidence of H influenzae invasive disease in Kingston and St Andrew nias 39 per 100,000 children under 5 years of age. T he majority (77%) of cases were in the under 2-year age group. A distinct s easonal pattern was noted, with a significantly higher proportion of patien ts (57-73%) presenting in the cooler months. Meningitis was the most common clinical diagnosis, accounting for 76% of the cases. Poor outcome was demo nstrated in 21.5% of patients with meningitis. sensitivity testing of H inf luenzae isolates revealed a resistance rate of 26% for ampicillin and 7% fo r chloramphenicol. The epidemiological findings in this study provide reaso nable guidelines for empiric antibiotic therapy and also support the need t o seriously consider vaccine prophylaxis in Jamaican children.