title: Antimicrobial sensitivity of Haemophilus influenzae isolates from bacterial conjunctivitis.
abstract: Haemophilus influenzae is one of the common bacterial pathogens which affect children. Resistance to frequently used antibiotics is becoming a significant problem in community isolates of common pathogens. A retrospective review was conducted of the serotypes and antimicrobial sensitivity of H influenzae isolates from bacterial conjunctivitis, over an 18-month period. Data on antimicrobial sensitivity (obtained by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards disk diffusion method) and beta-lactamase production, and typing results, were analysed. Ninety-nine isolates were recovered, of which 87 were typed. Most isolates were recovered from children under one year of age. Ninety-three percent were unencapsulated and biotypes I and IV were most common. H influenzae type b was recovered only twice. beta-lactamase was produced by 41% isolates while four isolates were ampicillin-resistant but did not produce beta-lactamase. All isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol and 45% were co-trimoxazole sensitive. H influenzae is commonly isolated from bacterial conjunctivitis in Barbados and, as elsewhere, the majority of isolates are from small children and are non-encapsulated. However, there is a high prevalence of beta-lactamase production, which may serve as a reservoir for transfer to more invasive encapsulated strains of H influenzae within the oropharyngeal flora.
authors.affiliation: University of the West Indies School of Clinical Medicine and Research, Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Barbados.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Levett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000494:pharmacology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D001618:beta-Lactamases