Treatment and Prevention of Haemophillus Infection

 

 

Treatment and Prevention

 

Ampicillin was the drug of choice. However 20% of strains are resistant to ampicillin. Therefore initial therapy now consists of a cephalosporin and ampicillin/chloramphenicol. The mortality rate of treated H. Influenzae is less than 10% and most children acquire effective immunity by age 10. However a significant proportion of children (up to 30%) develop neurological sequelae and 5% end up being institutionalised. A vaccine is now available against haemophillus influenzae type b and is used in children.