title: Intrauterine fetal death caused by Haemophilus influenzae infection: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haemophilus influenzae is a rare cause of intrauterine infection, with the potential to cause severe morbidity and mortality in the perinate.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-year-old primigravida presented at 32 weeks' gestation with sudden-onset abdominal pain and abrupt cessation of fetal movements. Intrauterine fetal death was confirmed. At necropsy the fetus had multiorgan hemorrhage. H influenzae was cultured from the amniotic membranes and ear canal fluid. The mother was readmitted on postpartum day 2 with fever. Her blood cultures were also positive for H influenzae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H influenzae may cause ascending fetal infection and death and may cause maternal sepsis by fetomaternal transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Downtown Hospital, 170 William Street, New York, NY 10038, USA.
authors.forename: Balazs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Mingxue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Manning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000821:virology; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third