Fatal, Fulminant and Invasive Non-Typeable <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> Infection in a Preterm Infant: A Re-Emerging Cause of Neonatal Sepsis

• Main Authors: Sudipta Roy Chowdhury, Srabani Bharadwaj, Suresh Chandran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
• Subjects: non-typeable <i>haemophilus influenza</i>; early-onset neonatal sepsis; preterm mortality
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/5/1/30
• ISSN: 2414-6366

Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) is a major cause of neonatal death and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities among survivors. The common pathogens causing EOS are group B <i>streptococcus </i>(GBS) and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> (<i>H.</i> <i>influenzae</i>) is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that can cause severe invasive disease and can be divided into either typeable or non-typeable strains. <i>H.</i> <i>influenzae</i> serotype b (Hib) is the most virulent and the major cause of bacterial meningitis in young children prior to routine immunization against Hib. Hib infection rates have dramatically reduced since then. However, a number of studies have reported an increasing incidence of non-typeable <i>H. influenzae</i> (NTHi) sepsis in neonates worldwide and concluded that pregnant women may have an increased risk to invasive NTHi disease with poor pregnancy outcomes. We present a case of fulminant neonatal sepsis caused by NTHi in an extremely preterm infant and discuss potential preventative measures to reduce its re-emergence.