Biologically and clinically significant cross-reactions may occur between the immunochemically similar capsule antigens of Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae type 6 by using counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). In three cases of culture-proven S. pneumoniae type 6 disease, a false-positive H. influenzae type b CIE result was detected in a body fluid. Two of three cases we...

Sensitive radioimmunoassays capable of measuring 0-5 ng/ml of the Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide and 2 ng/ml of the groups A and C meningococcal polysaccharides were developed and used to detect these substances in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Polysaccharide of the causative agent was detected in the CSF of 14 out of 15 patients with Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis, in 18 o...

The complete capsule (cap) loci from three Haemophilus influenzae strains, one serotype b (Hib) and two nonencapsulated b capsule-negative variants, were sequenced. Two new open reading frames, hcsA and hcsB, were identified in region III and thought to be involved in postpolymerization modification of the capsule. The location of the cap locus in the Haemophilus influenzae chromosome was ident...

Counter immuno electrophoresis was done on concentrated urine samples of 166 children with lower respiratory tract infection for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae type b antigens. About 101⁄4 cases showed the presence of Strept. Pneumoniae Polysaccharide antigen and1.8% H. influenzae antigen. No growth was seen on blood culture in 91.8% while 0.8% showed Strep...

The antibody response to Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens as capsular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, and outer membrane components was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 10 adults infected with this bacterium. Almost all patients had detectable amounts of immunoglobulins G and M antibodies specific to capsular polysaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, or outer membrane in thei...

Haemophilus influenzae is one of the microorganisms that make up the commensal flora of the upper respiratory tract. Carriage is common, but compatible with good health. None the less, H influenzae is a pathogen and, in the case of encapsulated type b organisms, causes life threatening, invasive (bacteraemic) infections, the most common and serious being meningitis and epiglottitis (table 1).' ...

Background. The standard use of vaccinations against pathogens has resulted in a decreased incidence of musculoskeletal infections caused by these previously common bacterial pathogens. Consequently, the incidence of infections caused by atypical bacteria is rising. This report presents a case of septic arthritis caused by non-type b H. influenzae in a pediatric patient. Methods. We report a ca...

The in vitro activity of cefixime was comparatively tested against 232 non-type b and 102 type b isolates of Haemophilus influenzae derived from clinical specimens of pediatric patients, including 10 non-type b strains that did not produce beta-lactamase and demonstrated resistance to ampicillin. Cefixime was active against the ampicillin-susceptible and ampicillin-resistant, beta-lactamase-pro...

Infant rats with bacteremia and meningitis induced by ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b were treated with ampicillin and nafcillin, alone or in combination. Neither ampicillin alone (in 19 animals) nor nafcillin alone (in 20 animals) sterilized the blood or cerebrospinal fluid of any treated infant rat. When the combination of ampicillin and nafcillin was used, blood cultures w...