title: Need for prevention of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in Geneva, Switzerland.
abstract: Based on a retrospective study of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) diseases in Geneva from 1976 to 1989, we analysed the need for prevention of invasive Hib infections by vaccination in Geneva, Switzerland. The overall incidence rate among children younger than 5 years of age was 60.2/100,000 population but it was 121.5/100,000 and 92.1/100,000 in 1988 and 1989 respectively, indicating a statistically significant increase of invasive Hib infections during the study period. Of patients, 41.5% had meningitis, 36.6% epiglottitis and 21.9% had other forms of Hib infections. The occurrence was 2.1% in children under 3 months of age and 92.3% in children younger than 5 years of age. From 1984, > 21% of all new isolates were beta-lactamase-producing Hib strains. From 1976 to 1989, two children (1.1%) died from epiglottitis and 12 children with meningitis (15.8%) developed serious neurological deficits. These data emphasize the need for prevention of invasive Hib infections by vaccination in all infants in Geneva.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervaix
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004826:Epiglottitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial