Evolution of Haemophilus influenzae infection during the vaccination period: literature review

Abstract

Mass immunization with H. influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines has led to a sharp decrease in the incidence of invasive and non-invasive forms of Haemophilus influenza infection. H. influenzae causes a diverse spectrum of diseases from usually asymptomatic carriage to otitis, sinusitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia, endopericarditis, inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, arthritis, and is one of the four main causative agents of bacterial meningitis. Materials and methods. In order to identify the significance of Hemophilus influenzae infection during the vaccination period, an analysis was carried out on the spread of Hemophilus influenzae infection, its clinical forms, as well as the antibiotic resistance of the pathogen. A review of domestic and foreign publications over the past 20 years was conducted in the search engines PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and Elibrary. Results. Studies conducted in various countries show that after the start of mass immunization, H. influenzae type b is no longer the dominant serotype of the pathogen causing invasive infections in most countries. Everywhere in the world, the leading positions are occupied by cases of infection caused by non-typable serotypes of H. influenzae type a, f, b (Hia, Hif, Hib) predominate among the capsular forms. Unprotected aminopenicillins, second-generation cephalosporins, and sulfonamides are the leading classes of antibacterial drugs to which H. influenzae strains have developed resistance. A variety of clinical forms is still relevant for hemophilic infection. Bacteremia, meningitis, and pneumonia are the main clinical manifestations of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection caused by typed and non-typed serotypes of the pathogen.