Haemophilus Health Dictionary

Gram-negative (see GRAM’S STAIN), rod-like, aerobic, non-sporing and non-motile parasitic bacteria. Mostly found in the respiratory tract, they may be part of the normal ?ora, but may also be responsible for several diseases. The main pathogenic species of haemophilus is H. in?uenzae, which may cause severe exacerbations of chronic BRONCHITIS, as well as MENINGITIS, EPIGLOTTITIS, SINUSITIS, and otitis media (see EAR, DISEASES OF). Other species may cause conjunctivitis (see EYE, DISORDERS OF) or CHANCROID. Haemophilus species are sensitive to a wide range of antibiotics, though generally resistant to penicillin. Infants are routinely immunised with Haemophilus B vaccine to prevent meningitis, septicaemia and epiglottitis

– all potentially fatal disesases.

n. a genus of Gram-negative aerobic nonmotile parasitic rodlike bacteria frequently found in the respiratory tract. They can grow only in the presence of certain factors in the blood and/or certain coenzymes: they are cultured on fresh blood *agar. Most species are pathogenic: H. aegyptius causes conjunctivitis, and H. ducreyi soft sore (chancroid). H. influenzae is associated with acute and chronic respiratory infections (see also epiglottitis) and is a common secondary cause of *influenza infections; H. influenzae type b is an important cause of bacterial *meningitis in young children (see Hib vaccine).