Haemophilus pneumonia is a common cause of early pulmonary dysfunction following trauma.

BACKGROUND

Haemophilus species are a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia; however, their significance in posttraumatic pneumonia is unclear.

DESIGN

Case series.

SETTING

University hospital, level I trauma center.

PATIENTS: Two hundred fifty-seven consecutive patients with blunt and penetrating trauma treated for pneumonia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of stay in the intensive care unit, duration of ventilatory support, rate of recurrent or persistent pneumonia, and mortality.

RESULTS

Ninety-six (37%) of 257 patients treated for pneumonia had a Haemophilus species isolated on sputum culture. Of these 96 patients, 49 (51%) had only Haemophilus species, while 33 (34%) had associated gram-positive organisms and 14 (15%) had gram-negative organisms. Seventeen pure cultures (29%) and seven mixed cultures (15%) (P < .05) were beta-lactamase-positive trains. Compared with patients who had pneumonia caused by other bacteria, patients with Haemophilus species were younger (mean +/- SE, 35 +/- 1.7 vs 42 +/- 1.6 years; P < .05) and more severely injured (Injury Severity Score, 20.7 +/- 1.1 vs 17.5 +/- 0.9; P < .05). There were no differences in any outcome variables between the two groups. Only one (1%) of 96 patients had persistent Haemophilus species on sputum cultures after 7 days of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Haemophilus species are a frequent cause of pneumonia following traumatic injury. This occurs primarily in the early postinjury phase and therefore should be included in the differential diagnosis of early posttraumatic pulmonary insufficiency.