Non-capsulated haemophilus influenzae in the genital flora of pregnant and post-puerperal women

Abstract

Non-capsulated Haemophilus influenzae may cause neonatal septicaemia. Genital carriage of this pathogen was studied in 3 mothers of infected neonates and in 2 pregnant women in the first trimester. A carrier state in 2 of the females was terminated by antibiotic therapy after 3 and 7 months, respectively. A previous carrier had no recurrence of H. influenzae in a subsequent pregnancy. A survey of 544 parturient women revealed a carrier rate of 1.8/1 000 (95% confidence limits: 0.1–11). Carriage of non-capsulated H. influenzae is thus rare, and pregnant women may be successfully treated in order to reduce the risk of neonatal infection. There was no evidence of immunodeficiency in women with non-capsulated H. influenzae in the genital tract.