ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN AND CAPSULAR TYPES OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE RECOVERED FROM CLINICAL SPECIMENS IN NORTHERN NORWAY

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Abstract
H. influenzae strains (109) recovered from clinical specimens were examined for antibiotic sensitivity pattern and capsular types. All strains from blood cultures, CSF and a joint aspirate were type b; most of the isolates were acapsular when recovered from other specimens, i.e., wound secretions (67%), maxillary sinus (75%), lower respiratory tract (86%), nasal cavity (90%). Of the 109 strains, 88 (81%) were non-typable, and 3.6% were .BETA.-lactamase-producing, 2 of which were type e, 1 type b and 1 acapsular. Three .beta.-lactamase-producing strains were isolated from specimens from the respiratory tract and 1 from blood cultures. .beta.-lactamase-producing strains including 1 chloramphenicol-resistant strain harbored similar plasmids, as judged by agarose gel electrophoresis. The strains showed quite a uniform sensitivity to antibacterial agents with the exception of sulfonamides to which the capsular strains, particularly type b strains, were less susceptible.