title: Isolation of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae in urethral exudates from men with acute urethritis: a descriptive study of 52 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes from male patients diagnosed of Haemophilus spp urethritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chart review of patients who presented to our hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 with symptoms of acute urethritis in which Haemophilus spp was isolated in their urethral samples was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haemophilus spp was isolated in 52 out of 413 urethral samples (12.6%) received in our laboratory from patients with symptoms of acute urethritis during the study period. Seven cases corresponded to Haemophilus influenzae and 45 cases to Haemophilus parainfluenzae. The most common clinical presentation was mucopurulent urethral discharge (71%). Eight per cent were HIV-infected patients, and 60% were men who have sex with men. Haemophilus spp was isolated as a single pathogen in 6.8% (28 of 413) of cases. Seventeen per cent of Haemophilus spp were β-lactamase producers. All patients reported having practiced unprotected insertive oral sex the month before consultation, and five of them denied having had another sexual contact apart from this exposure. In all cases in which follow-up was available, empirical treatment achieved a complete clinical resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Haemophilus spp was considered a pathogen in at least 6.8% of the patients from the evaluated area. It affected men regardless their sexual orientation or HIV status. Unprotected oral sex could play a role in its transmission. The limitations of the study (small sample size and lack of a representative control group) do not allow to prove the true pathogenic role of Haemophilus spp in acute urethritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deza
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martin-Ezquerra
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Referència de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Julià
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital del Mar-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villar-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Hospital del Mar-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: August
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Supervia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramon M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000382:microbiology*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044135:Haemophilus parainfluenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: BACTERIAL INFECTION; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; URETHRITIS