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Is a Gram-negative bacteria. It is a coccobacilli shaped bacteria as referenced in the scanning electron micrograph image on the below. Only chocolate agar can be used to specifically grow H. Influenzae due to the growth factors found in chocolate agar.  It may appear as satellite colonies around other bacteria on a blood agar plate, due to other bacteria lysing the red blood cells. This pathogen gives rise to several disease processes we will discuss further.

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H. Infuenzae specifically type B is responsible for several diseases. In this presentation we will focus on the two most likely, epiglottitis and bacterial meningitis. Also possible is pneumonia, bacteremia, and ear infections. Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the meningies of the brain, even when treated early has a mortality rate of 8-15%. Epiglottitis is swelling of the epiglottis due to infection which can obstruct the opening of the trachea. This can be very dangerous and possibly fatal especially to pediatric patients.

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Anyone can get it. H. Influenzae is only known to exist in the human body. Anyone at any age can acquire an acute infection. Children <14 years old Hib manifests as bacterial meningitis at higher rates than other age groups. consequently >45 years old Hib manifests as pneumonia at higher rates than other age groups.

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Bacterial meningitis symptoms develop suddenly and include. Altered mental status, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, headache, stiff neck and purple areas on the skin that resemble bruises. Definitive diagnoses uses interpretation of clarity of CSF and cultures from a lumbar puncture. Epiglotittis can occur at any age. symptoms include severe sore throat, difficulty breathing, high fever, pain when swallowing, drooling. A hallmark sign of epiglottitis is the "thumb" sign on x-ray films, pictured above.

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Unfortunately H. Influenzae (type-B) lives within the human body. Normally it lives without causing disease within the nose and throat of humans. Once it moves out of the areas we see significant disease processes. Fortunately our leading prevention is a vaccine developed in 1985 and has had roughly ten changes over the years to maintain effectiveness. Most people receive the vaccine as children and is not common above the age of five.

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Fortunately if H. Influenzae (type B) moves out of normal areas in the body and causes disease and we've not been vaccinated treatments are readily available. Several antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by Hib. Occasionally people that have been exposed to someone with an acute infection for long periods of time are treated prophylactically to prevent an acute infection. cephalosporins are preferred for B type infections. Rifampin is typically used for prophylaxis.