title: Clinical significance of serotype, biotype, and beta-lactamase production of respiratory isolates of Hemophilus influenzae.
abstract: The correlation between clinical significance and serotype, biotype, and beta-lactamase production of 101 respiratory isolates of Hemophilus influenza from nonbacteremic patients was determined. Six of 33 (18.2%) isolates from patients with definite or probable infection were serotypable; only two of 67 (3%) isolates from colonized patients were serotypable. Eight-seven and one-half per cent of the serotypable strains were biotypes I or IV; 78.8% of nonserotypable strains were biotypes II, III, or V. Biotype distribution among isolates from patients with definite or probable infection were similar to isolates from colonized patients. beta-lactamase production was not helpful in evaluating clinical significance. Nonserotypable H. influenzae is an important cause of nonbacteremic pneumonia in elderly men.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D012703:Serotyping; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001618:beta-Lactamases