Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Disease, Europe, 1996-2006

Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Mar;16(3):455-63. doi: 10.3201/eid1603.090290.

Abstract

An international collaboration was established in 1996 to monitor the impact of routine Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination on invasive H. influenzae disease; 14 countries routinely serotype all clinical isolates. Of the 10,081 invasive H. influenzae infections reported during 1996-2006, 4,466 (44%, incidence 0.28 infections/100,000 population) were due to noncapsulated H. influenzae (ncHi); 2,836 (28%, 0.15/100,000), to Hib; and 690 (7%, 0.036/100,000), to non-b encapsulated H. influenzae. Invasive ncHi infections occurred in older persons more often than Hib (median age 58 years vs. 5 years, p<0.0001) and were associated with higher case-fatality ratios (12% vs. 4%, p<0.0001), particularly in infants (17% vs. 3%, p<0.0001). Among non-b encapsulated H. influenzae, types f (72%) and e (21%) were responsible for almost all cases; the overall case-fatality rate was 9%. Thus, the incidence of invasive non-type b H. influenzae is now higher than that of Hib and is associated with higher case fatality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Haemophilus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology
  • Haemophilus Infections / prevention & control
  • Haemophilus Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Haemophilus influenzae / classification
  • Haemophilus influenzae / isolation & purification*
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • National Health Programs
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Haemophilus Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Conjugate