title: Community-acquired Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in adults.
abstract: Haemophilus influenzae is an uncommon cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. This report describes a prospective evaluation of 16 episodes of community-acquired H. influenzae meningitis in a nationwide study on bacterial meningitis. Predisposing conditions were present in eight (50%) of the 16 episodes; the most common predisposing conditions were otitis or sinusitis (five episodes; 31%) and remote neurosurgery or head trauma (three episodes; 19%). One (6%) episode was fatal and hearing loss occurred in four (25%) episodes. It was concluded that H. influenzae meningitis in adults is a disease with a rather benign clinical course and a relatively good prognosis compared with pneumococcal meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.c.brouwer@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Beek
authors.forename: S G B
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Heckenberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spanjaard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Gans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012703:Serotyping