Emergence of Nonencapsulated and Encapsulated Non-b-Type Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Isolates in Portugal (1989-2001)
J. Clin. Microbiol., 42 (2):
807--810 (February 2004)DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.2.807-810.2004
Abstract
Phenotypes and genetic relatedness of invasive Haemophilus influenzae strains were evaluated from 1989 through 2001. Among 119 isolates, multidrug resistance decreased (from 50 to 0\%), the level of H. influenzae serotype b (Hib) strains declined (from 81 to 16\%), the level of noncapsulated strains rose (from 19 to 80\%), and the first invasive H. influenzae serotype f strain was described. This study documents changes in invasive H. influenzae infections in Portugal, i.e., the emergence of non-type-b strains that are genetically diverse and unrelated to Hib.