Infections in children caused by the HB group of bacteria

The HB bacteria are a group of fastidious gram-negative organisms of low pathogenicity and are unusual causes of infection in normal infants and children. Eight pediatric patients with infections caused by HB bacteria are presented. Six of these eight patients had deep tissue abscesses including empyema, meningitis, peritonitis, and osteomyelitis. These patients may have been predisposed to infection because of altered host defense mechanisms, underlying chronic diseases, or trauma. The HB bacteria morphologically resemble Hemophilus influenzae but are differentiated by their colonial formation and biochemical reactions. The HB bacteria are frequently resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. Treatment with tetracycline or chloramphenicol should be instituted until susceptibility studies are available.