Gram stain: negative Cell shape: pleomorphic rods Arrangement: Oxygen requirements: facultative anaerobes Other: large capsule former. Six antigenic types labeled a - f, with type b responsible for most cases of serious disease.
Habitat: mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract.
Pathogenicity: causative agent of otitis media, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, epiglottitis (an often fatal infection of the epiglottis, a rapidly developing disease that can cause death within hours), septic arthritis, bronchitis, pneumonia; is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children. A vaccine is now available and required in many states for type b.
Name derived from the bacteria's requirement for blood in their culture medium. Many times they get the blood component by living in satellite communities with other bacteria that utilize blood also, such as S. aureus.
Haemophilus influenzae
