A comparison of three antibiotic regimens for eradication of Haemophilus influenzae type b from the pharynx of infants and children.

The communicability of Haemophilus influenzae type b has recently been shown to be comparable to that of Neisseria meningitidis.1,2 The secondary attack rate of H influenzae type b disease is approximately 2% in young contacts of an index case, an observation that has stimulated investigators to attempt to identify effective chemoprophylactic regimens. Elsewhere in this issue are two studies reporting successful use of rifampin in eradicating H influenzae type b from the pharynx of infants and children who were exposed to patients with the disease.3,4 Other regimens have not been effective.5,6 The purpose of this brief communication is to report our results with three antimicrobial agents that were given in an attempt to eliminate pharyngeal carriage of H influenzae type b in infants and children.