Recommendations for application of Haemophilus influenzae PCR diagnostics to respiratory specimens for children living in northern Australia: a retrospective re-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Haemophilus haemolyticus can be misidentified as nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) due to their phenotypic similarities in microbiological culture. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of misidentified NTHi in respiratory specimens from children living in northern Australia.


RESULTS
Among respiratory specimens collected in studies between 2010 and 2013, retrospective PCR analysis found that routine culture misidentified H. haemolyticus as NTHi in 0.3% (3/879) of nasal specimens, 25% (14/55) of bronchoalveolar lavage and 40% (12/30) of throat specimens. Therefore, in this population, PCR-based NTHi diagnostics are indicated for throat and bronchoalveolar specimens, but not for nasal specimens.
['Beissbarth|Jemima|J|http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1154-230X', 'Binks|Michael J|MJ|', 'Marsh|Robyn L|RL|', 'Chang|Anne B|AB|', 'Leach|Amanda J|AJ|', 'Smith-Vaughan|Heidi C|HC|']
D001315:Australia D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D017408:Guidelines as Topic D006192:Haemophilus Infections D006193:Haemophilus influenzae D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D008297:Male D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections D012189:Retrospective Studies
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) Haemophilus haemolyticus (Hh) Nasopharynx, bronchoalveolar lavage