Haemophilus influenzaeType b Meningitis in the Short Period after Vaccination: A Reminder of the Phenomenon of Apparent Vaccine Failure

Noa Greenberg-Kushnir,Havatzelet Yarden-Bilavsky,Orly Haskin,Efraim Bilavsky,Jacob Amir

doi:10.1155/2012/950107

Noa Greenberg-Kushnir, Havatzelet Yarden-Bilavsky + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/950107

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Abstract

We present two cases of bacterial meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) which developed a few days after conjugate Hib vaccination. This phenomenon of postimmunization provocative time period is reviewed and discussed. These cases serve as a reminder to clinicians of the risk, albeit rare, of invasive Hib disease in the short period after successful immunization.

Highlights

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children worldwide until the introduction of the Hib conjugate vaccine in the early 1990s [1]
We present two cases of bacterial meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) which developed a few days after conjugate Hib vaccination
This phenomenon of postimmunization provocative time period is reviewed and discussed. These cases serve as a reminder to clinicians of the risk, albeit rare, of invasive Hib disease in the short period after successful immunization

Summary

Introduction

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children worldwide until the introduction of the Hib conjugate vaccine in the early 1990s [1]. We present two cases of bacterial meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) which developed a few days after conjugate Hib vaccination. These cases serve as a reminder to clinicians of the risk, albeit rare, of invasive Hib disease in the short period after successful immunization.

Results

Conclusion