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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.