The H. influenzae capsule protects the bacteria against both phagocytosis and opsonization. Encapsulated H. influenzae strains are classified into serotypes ranging from a to f dependent on their distinct polysaccharide capsule.

What is the morphology of Haemophilus influenzae?

Microscopic morphology of Haemophilus influenzae. Haemophilus influenzae is a nonmotile, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. The rounded ends of short (0.5-1.5 μm) bacilli make many appear round, hence the term coccobacilli.

Does Haemophilus influenzae have a cell wall?

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle the gram negative coccobacillus has important cell wall components that play a role in its survival and its pathogenicity. H. influenzae bacteria consist of various strains based on the presence or absence of an outer covering called capsules.

Does Haemophilus influenzae have flagella?

Haemophilus influenzae is a small gram negative bacteria which is about 1x 0.3um in size and it also lack the presence of flagella and pili, which means it lack mobility. (6) Some of these bacteria contain polysaccharide capsule which function as protection and colonization.

Where is Haemophilus influenzae type B found?

The one that people are most familiar with is H. influenzae type b or Hib. These bacteria live in people’s nose and throat, and usually cause no harm. However, the bacteria can sometimes move to other parts of the body and cause infection.

Can Haemophilus influenzae grow on blood agar?

Haemophilus influenzae requires both factors X and V; accordingly, it grows on chocolate agar but not on blood agar (Fig. 30-2), although it may appear on a blood agar plate as tiny satellite colonies around the colonies of other bacteria that have lysed red blood cells.

Is H. influenzae fastidious?

H. influenzae is a fastidious organism which grows best at 35-37°C with ~5% CO2 (or in a candle-jar) and requires hemin (X factor) and nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide (NAD, also known as V factor) for growth.

Does Haemophilus influenzae ferment glucose?

H. influenzae ferments glucose, maltose, and laevulose to acid without gas. Proteolytic activity is very slight, but many strains produce indole. All strains reduce nitrates.

How do you differentiate Haemophilus influenzae and Parainfluenzae?

The key difference between Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae is that Haemophilus influenzae is a gammaproteobacterium that requires both hermin (factor X) and NAD+ (factor V) for its growth, while Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a gammaproteobacterium that requires only NAD+ (factor V) for its growth.

Is Haemophilus motile?

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is an encapsulated, non-motile and non-spore-forming Gram-negative coccobacillus which causes severe pneumonia, meningitis and other life threatening illnesses.

Article first time published on

Is Haemophilus influenzae aerobic?

H. influenzae, a fastidious, pleomorphic, gram-negative coccobacillus, requires hemin (X factor) and nicotinamide- adenine-dinucleotide (NAD, also known as V factor) for in vitro growth. It is generally aerobic, but can grow as an anaerobe under certain conditions.

Who discovered Haemophilus influenzae?

In the 1930s, Margaret Pittman demonstrated that H. influenzae could be isolated in encapsulated (typeable) and unencapsulated (nontypeable) forms. She observed that virtually all isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood were of the capsular type b. Before the introduction of effective vaccines, H.

What is the virulence factor of Haemophilus?

The capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae serotype b [(3)-beta-D-ribose-(1-1)-ribitol-5-phosphate] is a major virulence factor and a target for serum antibodies which protect individuals against invasive infections.

What is the cut off age for Hib vaccine?

You can administer the first dose as early as age 6 weeks. CDC recommends a booster dose of any licensed conjugate Hib vaccine at age 12 through 15 months.

Where is Haemophilus influenzae found in the body?

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.

Where is Haemophilus influenzae found in the world?

The incidence is estimated at 47/100,000 in the US, and 20-30/100,000 in Europe for children 5 years. In non-industrialized settings, data are available for Alaska and The Gambia, where incidence is 60/100,000 children 5.

How do you grow Haemophilus influenzae?

H. influenzae strains normally grow well in rich media such as brain heart infusion (BHI), suitably supplemented with hemin and NAD (sBHI), and on sBHI or chocolate agar plates. Many isolates classified as H. influenzae differ in their other nutritional requirements, for a purine and for specific amino acids (1,2).

Why do we use chocolate agar?

Chocolate agar (CHOC) or chocolate blood agar (CBA), is a nonselective, enriched growth medium used for isolation of pathogenic bacteria. … Chocolate agar is used for growing fastidious respiratory bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis.

Is Chlamydia spp fastidious?

Infections caused by intracellular bacteria and fastidious organisms such as Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Coxiella burnetii are associated with important morbidities 1.

Is there a vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae?

Hib vaccine can prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease. Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause many different kinds of infections. These infections usually affect children under 5 years of age but can also affect adults with certain medical conditions.

Does amoxicillin cover H flu?

Amoxicillin (Trimox, Amoxil, Trimox) Penicillin-resistant strains also resistant to amoxicillin, but higher doses may be effective. More effective against gram-negative organisms (eg, Neisseria meningitidis, H influenzae) than penicillin.

How do you test for Haemophilus influenzae?

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications Doctors usually diagnose Haemophilus influenzae infection with one or more laboratory tests. The most common testing methods use a sample of blood or spinal fluid.

Does Haemophilus Parainfluenzae satellite?

Haemophilus haemolyticus and Haemophilus parahaemolyticus may grow without the Staphylococcus and thus may not exhibit the satellite phenomenon even if they require V factor (NAD). Since they are haemolytic, they can release NAD into the medium.

Is Haemophilus influenzae normal flora?

H influenzae is a small, pleomorphic, gram-negative coccobacillus that is frequently found as part of the normal flora in the upper respiratory tract. The organism can spread from one individual to another in airborne droplets or by direct contact with secretions.

Is Haemophilus influenzae the same as flu?

influenzae. Some of these illnesses, like ear infections, are mild while others, like bloodstream infections, are very serious. In spite of the name, H. influenzae do not cause influenza (the flu).

Is Haemophilus influenzae Capnophilic?

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.

What is the difference between influenza and Haemophilus influenzae?

What’s the difference between Haemophilus influenzae type b and influenza? Haemophilus influenzae type b is a polysaccharide-encapsulated bacteria that causes a variety of invasive diseases, such as meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia. Influenza is a virus that causes the disease influenza.

Is Haemophilus species catalase positive?

Haemophilus massiliensis17 Cells are rod-shaped and growth occurs between 25 and 45 °C, optimal growth temperature is at 37 °C. They are positive for catalase and oxidase.

Is H. influenzae indole positive?

influenzae from cerebrospinal fluid and blood specimens were indole positive. Only 4 of 117 (3%) Haemophilus parainfluenzae isolates were positive for indole spot tests. Thus, indole-positive, nonhemolytic Haemophilus isolates in respiratory cultures can be presumptively identified as H. influenzae.

Can Haemophilus ferment lactose?

TestReactionGlucose+Fructose–Galactose+Lactose–

How do you identify Haemophilus Ducreyi?

Furthermore, identification is not easy because H ducreyi is asaccharolytic. Identification is usually made by Gram stain showing Gram-negative coccobacilli that produce characteristic tan-yellow colonies that are highly self adherent and can be ‘nudged’ intact over the surface of the agar.