What does Haemophilus influenzae look like?

H. influenzae appear as large, round, smooth, convex, colorless-to-grey, opaque colonies on a CAP (Figure 1). Encapsulated strains appear more mucoidal than non-encapsulated strains, which appear as smaller, compact grey colonies. No hemolysis or discoloration of the CAP is apparent.

What Gram stain is Haemophilus influenzae?

Haemophilus influenzae (formerly called Pfeiffer’s bacillus or Bacillus influenzae) is a Gram-negative, coccobacillary, facultatively anaerobic capnophilic pathogenic bacterium of the family Pasteurellaceae. H. influenzae was first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic.

Is Haemophilus influenzae Gram-negative rods?

Haemophilus influenzae are gram-negative bacteria that can cause infection in the respiratory tract, which can spread to other organs.

Why is Haemophilus influenzae Gram-negative?

Haemophilus species are Gram-negative coccobacilli similar in ultrastructural features to other pathogenic bacilli. Haemophilus influenzae requires hemin (factor X) and NAD+ (factor V) for growth. Other Haemophilus species require only NAD+ and therefore grow on blood agar.

Is Haemophilus influenzae a virus or bacteria?

Haemophilus influenzae disease is a name for any illness caused by bacteria called H. influenzae. Some of these illnesses, like ear infections, are mild while others, like bloodstream infections, are very serious.

Where is Haemophilus influenzae most commonly found?

Haemophilus influenzae is a bacteria that is found in the nose and throat of children and adults. Some people can carry the bacteria in their bodies but do not become ill.

What is Type H flu?

Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) is a group of bacteria that can cause different types of infections in babies and children. H. influenzae most often cause ear, eye, or sinus infections. They also cause pneumonia.

What antibiotic kills Haemophilus influenzae?

The bactericidal effects of chloramphenicol and three beta-lactams (ampicillin, cefamandole, and penicillin G) were measured for 27 strains of Haemophilus influenzae type b isolated from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid of infected infants.

What antibiotics treat Haemophilus influenzae?

Oral antibiotics with activity against beta-lactamase–producing H influenzae include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefuroxime axetil, cefixime, clarithromycin, azithromycin, and fluoroquinolones. Patients with conjunctivitis should receive topical antibiotics such as sulfacetamide and erythromycin.

How did I get Haemophilus influenzae?

People spread H. influenzae, including Hib, to others through respiratory droplets. This happens when someone who has the bacteria in their nose or throat coughs or sneezes. People who are not sick but have the bacteria in their noses and throats can still spread the bacteria.

What disease does H. influenzae cause?

H. influenzae most often cause pneumonia, but can also cause severe illnesses like meningitis and bloodstream infections. Haemophilus influenzae, a type of bacteria, can cause many different kinds of infections. These infections range from mild, ear infections, to serious, like bloodstream infections.

Is H flu contagious?

Haemophilus influenza bacteria are spread through respiratory droplets and through person-to-person contact. The contagious period varies and, unless treated, can last for as long as the bacteria are present in the nose and throat, even after symptoms have disappeared.

What kind of Gram stain is Haemophilus influenzae?

Sputum Gram stain at 1000x magnification. The sputum is from a person with Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia, and the Gram negative coccobacilli are visible with a background of neutrophils. Haemophilus influenzae requires X and V factors for growth.

How is Haemophilus parainfluenzae different from h.influenzae?

Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a common isolate from the nasopharynx. It has different colony morphology from H. influenzae and can be distinguished biochemically by the ability to produce acid from mannose. Its role in human disease is unclear. It has no requirement for NAD and will not grow above 35 °C.

Where can you find Haemophilus parainfluenzae in the mouth?

Michael S. Simberkoff, in Goldman’s Cecil Medicine (Twenty Fourth Edition), 2012. Haemophilus parainfluenzae can be found as part of the normal flora of the mouth and pharynx (Table 308-1). It is a rare cause of meningitis in children and an even rarer cause of meningitis in adults.

What are the pre diosing factors of Haemophillus parainfluenza?

Sickle cell anemia, asplenia and immune deficiency are the pre disposing factors of haemophillus parainfluenza infection. All species of haemophillus is not beneficial but some are pathogenic and haemophillus parainfluenza is the one.