Haemophilus species as a urinary tract pathogen

Abstract

Haemophilus species, as a urinary tract pathogen, is rarely encountered. Routine urine culture pathogens are well documented to include Enterobacteriaciae, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Candida spp. Pathogens encountered rarely in this context may include Corynebacterium ureolyticus and nonfermenting gram negative bacilli. This case study involves the finding of Haemophilus influenzae in a urine culture performed on a 4-year-old Caucasian girl and Haemophilus parinfluenzae in a 60-year-old African American man with pyelonephritis. Visualization of satellite colonies on blood agar was a key factor in finding H. influenza. Awareness of the previous presence of Haemophilus spp. in a urine culture was instrumental in our finding of H. parainfluenzae 3 weeks later. These cases raise the question of how often Haemophilus spp. occur as urinary tract pathogens and under what circumstances one should actively perform cultures for them.