Neonatal Haemophilus influenzae infections.
Thirteen cases of neonatal Haemophilus influenzae (HI) infections were identified in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia during 1 year: seven male, six female. The mean weight and age were 36.0 weeks (28-44) and 2.5 kg (1.1-4.5) respectively. All babies were delivered outside the hospital, five at home and eight at primary care centres. HI was isolated from the lungs in 12 (92%), eyes in seven (54%), and from the blood in four (31%). None of the neonates had meningitis. HI resistant to ampicillin and cefuroxime were identified in one case (7.7%) each. All survived and were discharged home in good condition. Our findings suggest that HI is becoming more recognised as a cause of neonatal infections especially in premature babies. The current starting regimen of antibiotics for suspected sepsis in neonates (ampicillin and gentamicin) adequately cover for HI sepsis and need not be changed unless lack of response to treatment is documented.
al-Mofada
S M
SM
Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male
D002511:Cephalosporins