Difference between revisions of "Haemophilus species - Overview"
(Created page with '{{unfinished}} ==Overview== The ''Haemophilus'' species inhabit the mucosal epithelium of the upper respiratory and lower genital tract. They cause suppurative infections due t…') |
(No difference)
|
Revision as of 08:56, 21 July 2010
 |
This article is still under construction. |
Overview
The Haemophilus species inhabit the mucosal epithelium of the upper respiratory and lower genital tract. They cause suppurative infections due to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, released from macrophages. This includes serofibrinous to fibrinopurative infections of the lungs, body cavities and joints. The colonisation of meningeal vessels causes a thrombotic vasculitis leading to encephalitis and meningitis.
Characteristics
Haemophilus species are morphologically variable Gram-negative bacilli, ranging from short rods to long filaments. They are facultative anaerobes and are typically oxidase positive. They depend on beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) (V factor) and/or Haemin (X fector) for growth.
Heated blood agar (Chocolate Agar) is required for growth of NAD-dependent strains. Haemin-dependent strains grow on Blood Agar but do not grow on MacConkey agar.