Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control92043002627616Research ArticleInvasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in elderly nursing home residents: two related cases.HeathT. C.HewittM. C.JalaludinB.RobertsC.CaponA. G.JelfsP.GilbertG. L.Western Sector Public Health Unit, North Parramatta, New South Wales.Apr-Jun199732179182

We investigated two fatal cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection in a community nursing home in western Sydney, Australia. Two elderly women had lived in the same room, and the onset of their illness was 5 days apart. Hib isolates from blood cultures showed identical profiles by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. These findings suggest that Hib infection was transmitted within this nursing home. Serious Hib disease may be underrecognized in this setting. Continued surveillance and serotyping of invasive H. influenzae disease is essential for identifying groups at increasing risk that may benefit from immunization against Hib.