The Significance of Haemophilus Influenzae in Chronic Respiratory Disease as Elucidated by Serologic Tests

Abstract

By simultaneous examination of bronchoscopic aspirates, sputum samples, and throat swabs in a material of patients with chronic bronchial disease, together with determinations of antibodies against the common pathogenic bacteria of the respiratory tract the following facts emerge:

The combined results of cultures from throat swabs and sputum samples reflect poorly the bacterial flora found in bronchial secretion.

Among potentially pathogenic bacteria H. influenzae and pneumococci were most often recovered from bronchial secretion, the former especially so in comparison with its occurrence in throat swabs and sputum.

The occurrence of H. influenzae in bronchial aspirates was correlated to elevated titres of homologous antibody. No such correlation existed between findings of this organism in sputum and throat swabs on one side, and homologous titres on the other.

As to other bacteria studied there was no correlation between their occurrence in any material cultivated and elevations of the homologous antibody titres.

It is concluded that in chronic bronchial disease H. influenzae prevails over the other pathogenic bacteria of the respiratory tract as etiological factor.