HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE, THE TYPE-B AND ALL THE OTHERS

The breakdown in capsulated and non capsulated H. influenzae strains was presented for isolates studied at the ''Centre National de Reference pour H. influenzae''. Among 6,517 strains received during a period of 9 years (1984-1992), 78 % were non typable, 20 % were type b and 2 % belong to another capsular type, incidence of capsulated strains was different according to the origin of the specimen : conjunctivitis (5 %), bronchial secretions (8,2 %), otitis (9,9 %). Strains isolated from meningitis belong to type b (93,5 %), type f (0,6 %) or were non typable (5,8 %). Strains isolated from blood culture belong to type b (66,2 %), type f(1 %), type e (0,5 %) and 32,1 % were non capsulated, Non typable strains were isolated from neonatal infections (84 % of the cases occuring at this period) and from infections in adults (58,7 % of the strains isolated from patients older than 15 years). Type f occured in adults and children; type e was isolated from adults only, The knowledge of the situation existing in France before the introduction of conjugate vaccine could be useful to appreciate possible modification occuring after the large use of the vaccine.