title: Cluster of Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in adults.
abstract: Haemophilus influenzae type b commonly causes illness in young children, among whom transmission is known to occur. Most adults are believed to be immune to H influenzae type b and outbreaks of disease among adults appear to be uncommon. From July 14 to Aug 12, 1985, a cluster of six cases of acute febrile illness with cultures positive for H influenzae, biotype II (five cases) or untyped H influenzae (one case), occurred among adults in a nursing home and an adjoining hospital. All six case-patients had personal contact with at least one other case-patient. Among the 46 nursing home residents, men were more likely than women to become ill (44% vs 0%). This cluster of disease suggests that elderly adults may be more susceptible to H influenzae infection than is generally recognized and that outbreaks among adults may result from person-to-person transmission.
authors.affiliation: Division of Field Services, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Stricof
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shayegani
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013029:Space-Time Clustering
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D012293:Rifampin