What is Invasive Haemophilus Influenzae Disease?
Invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease is caused by the gram negative bacteria Haemophilus influenzae. Invasive disease is described as bacteria isolated from a normally sterile site such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, or joint fluid. Infection with Haemophilus influenzae most often causes bacteremia (infection of the blood), meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis (an infection and swelling of tissue in the throat), arthritis, cellulitis, bone infections, and other infections. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a vaccine-preventable disease. Other types of Haemophilus influenzae can cause similar illness and are not vaccine-preventable.
