New: NCI-funded clinical trial search
Mednet Logo

Should household contacts of Haemophilus influenza invasive disease patients be given immediate antibiotic prophylaxis?

Since the use of conjugated Hib vaccine in 1987, invasive type B disease is quite rare, and in my adult population, unheard of. When I see an adult hospitalized with Haemophilus influenzae growth from sputum or blood culture, it creates much anxiety to immediately prophylax all household members, not a small consideration when there is a large household and rifampin requires a review of each person's entire medication list. Prescribing rifampin for 4 days can cause GI side effects as well. CDC data 2015 - 2019* states an incidence of invasive B disease 3 cases / 10 million population. Given these statistics, Is it reasonable to wait until the immunotyping result is available before prescribing rifampin to an entire household? Reference: *Current Epidemiology and Trends in Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Disease—United States, 2009–2015. Soeters, Heidi M. Clin Infect Dis. 67(6):881-889 URL : https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/59723
Community PollStarted

Without a known Haemophilus immunotype, do you prescribe rifampin for all household contacts of a patient with invasive H flu disease?

16 physicians have voted

Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.