[Isolation of Haemophilus spp. from samples of pleural fluid: 11 years' review].
BACKGROUND
The incidence and significance of Haemophilus spp. in plural fluid were retrospectively studied over a period of 11 years.


METHODS
Gram staining and culture in aerobic and anaerobic media was performed in 7517 pleural fluids. Haemophilus spp. was identified with the AMS-Vitek and/or conventional systems. The presence of beta-lactamase was assessed by this method or by the acidometric method.


RESULTS
Haemophilus spp. was identified in 72 samples (0.9%) corresponding to 37 patients. The medical records of 22 were reviewed. The most common species isolated was H. influenzae. Gram stain exam was positive on 28 occasions (38.8%), with gram-negative bacilli being observed in 78.5%. A pure culture was obtained in 43 samples with anaerobic bacteria associated in 18% of the cases. Only 10 strains (16.4%) produced beta-lactamase. No predominance of any determined biotype was observed. Most of the patients were male with a mean age of 59.2 years (range: 2-82). Seventeen patients presented with community-acquired pneumonia, as well as tuberculous sequelae, pneumonectomy and pulmonary and/or upper GI truct neoplasms. All were treated with antibiotics, beta-lactam drugs alone or with aminoglycosides. Half of them also required surgical drainage. Four patients died in relation with the underlying disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Haemophilus spp. was isolated in 7.7% of 7517 samples of pleural fluid. This finding may indicate the coexistence of an underlying thoracic disease of neoplastic origin.
Olsina
M
M
Servicios de Microbiología, Ciutat Sanitària Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.
Ferrer
A
A
Alegre
J
J
Falcó
V
V
Fernández de Sevilla
T
T
Crespo
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013045:Species Specificity; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000032:analysis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases
Aislamiento de Haemophilus spp. en muestras de líquido pleural: revisión de 11 años.