Early onset Haemophilus influenzae sepsis in the newborn infant.
Neonatal sepsis caused by Haemophilus influenzae is characterized by an early onset syndrome associated with pneumonia, shock and neutropenia. Over a 30-month period 13 infants referred to this hospital had early onset H. influenzae sepsis. Obstetric complications included preterm labor (92%), prolonged rupture of membranes > 12 hours (63%), maternal fever (64%), chorioamnionitis (43%), vaginal discharge (44%) and premature rupture of membranes (15%). All 13 infants were symptomatic at delivery and 7 required immediate intubation. Pneumonia and respiratory distress were the prominent clinical findings. H. influenzae was isolated from infant blood, maternal blood, placenta and genital tract. Isolates were predominantly non-type b, beta-lactamase-negative. A study to determine the prevalence of H. influenzae colonization of the genital tract among women attending clinic at the hospital with the most cases showed a rate of 0.3%. Perinatal risk factors and clinical findings in the infants are similar to disease caused by other organisms associated with early onset sepsis.
Kinney
J S
JS
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.
Johnson
K
K
Papasian
C
C
Hall
R T
RT
Kurth
C G
CG
Jackson
M A
MA
D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology