Clonal spread of an invasive strain of Haemophilus influenzae type b among nursery contacts accompanied by a high carriage rate of non-disease-associated strains.
Haemophilus influenza carriage was examined in unvaccinated nursery contacts of a patient with H. influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis and isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Nasopharyngeal isolates were classified into eight PFGE patterns. Seven Hib carriers were found among 15 nursery contacts. The isolates from the carriers showed a PFGE pattern identical to that of the meningitis strain. The carrier rate of non-disease-associated strains was also high (47%, 7 of 15). This study suggests that the clonal spread of invasive (serotype b) H. influenzae strains is accompanied by a high carriage rate of non-disease-associated strains.
Saito
Mitsumasa
M
Departments of *Bacteriology and †Paedriatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University and ‡Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Okada
Kenji
K
Departments of *Bacteriology and †Paedriatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University and ‡Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Takemori
Kouichi
K
Departments of *Bacteriology and †Paedriatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University and ‡Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Yoshida
Shin-Ichi
SI
Departments of *Bacteriology and †Paedriatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University and ‡Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
D002353:Carrier State; D016358:Contact Tracing; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D009724:Nurseries, Infant