Occurrence of potentially invasive nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strains isolating from children attending day-care centres and orphanages

Close contacts between children attending day-care centres, orphanages or similar institutions favours mutual transmission of infections with nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) strains. NTHi are transmitted via air-droplets or via direct contact with respiratory system exudates from nonsymptomatic carriers. The study aimed at monitoring of potentially invasive nontypeable H. influenzae strains of hmwA+ profile among children in day-care centres and orphanages. Monitoring of prevalence of strains of hmwA profile in a single day-care centres within 8 months confirmed high level of NTHi strains transmission including NTHi strains potentially invasive. It has been shown, that potentially invasive NTHi strains appear with different frequency in day-care centres and orphanages. It also points out that dissemination NTHi is easy in such an environment.