Haemophilus influenzae
1
7.9
- noun
- /ˌhiːməˈfɪləs ɪnflʊˈɛnzeɪ/
- Specialized
- In recent studies, Haemophilus influenzae type B was identified as a significant cause of bacterial meningitis.
- Haemophilus influenzae type
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
Examples
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Figure 1. Structure of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) simulation model. Persons are born into the no-antibody, disease-susceptible state and can die in any of the model states.
Academic text (2012) -
Figure 2. Incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae serotypes e and f infections, by age group, England and Wales, 2009-2010.
Academic text (2012) -
The vaccine that protects against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is a conjugate vaccine.
Academic text (2015) -
The organisms most frequently responsible are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, beta-hemolytic streptococci, and gram-negative bacilli.
Academic text (1995) -
Demographic characteristics of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups studied for antibodies against Haemophilus influenzae type A, Thunder Bay region, northwestern Ontario, Canada, 2010-2012.
Academic text (2015) -
Routine use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines has dramatically reduced the incidence of Hib disease in children <5 years of age in numerous populations (1-4).
Academic text (2012) -
The vaccine that protects against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) can prevent severe respiratory infections in children.
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Healthcare providers recommend immunization against Haemophilus influenzae type B for infants and young children.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Haemophilus + influenzae
This is a Latin binomial name: 'Haemophilus' denotes a genus of bacteria and 'influenzae' signals an association with influenza. While a learner who knows both parts might infer it is a bacterium related to influenza, the full clinical sense (‘a species that can cause serious respiratory infections or meningitis’) is taxonomic and not a straightforward compositional meaning, so the relation is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Haemophilus influenzae may get its name from two simple ideas: haemo- means 'blood' and -philus means 'loving', and influenzae refers to the flu because scientists first found the germ during a big flu outbreak and thought it caused influenza. So the name creates the image of a 'blood-loving' germ linked to the flu, and today it is the name for a bacterium that can cause serious infections in children.