Characterization of non-type B Haemophilus influenzae strains isolated from patients with invasive disease. The HI Study Group

J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Dec;38(12):4649-52. doi: 10.1128/JCM.38.12.4649-4652.2000.

Abstract

Forty-one non-type b Haemophilus influenzae isolates from cases of invasive disease were characterized. By PCR capsular genotyping, 33 nonencapsulated strains, 4 type f isolates, and 4 b(-) strains were identified. By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, the nonencapsulated isolates exhibited great genetic heterogenicity, whereas the type f and the b(-) strains seemed to have a clonal spread. Occurrence of the hifA gene was found by PCR in 18% of the nonencapsulated, 50% of the b(-), and all of the type f strains. Hemagglutinating fimbriae were generally expressed by nonencapsulated isolates when fimbrial gene hifA was present. Two nonencapsulated isolates not susceptible to ampicillin were detected; no strains were positive for beta-lactamase production.

MeSH terms

  • Ampicillin / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Capsules / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Fimbriae Proteins*
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial
  • Genotype
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / classification*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / drug effects
  • Haemophilus influenzae / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • HifA protein, Haemophilus influenzae
  • Fimbriae Proteins
  • Ampicillin
  • beta-Lactamases