Caracterización de cepas de Haemophilus influenzae mediante fermentación de azúcares

64 haemophilus influenzae strains circulating in havana city during a year were characterized by the carbohidrate fermentation method for the first time in cuba. the fermentative pattern d was the most frequently found. patterns d and g together were 72 % of the total of strains studied. the combination of the carbohidrate fermentation with serotypping and biotyping allowed a greater differentiation of strains (14 groups). patterns a, b, c and f appeared in children over 6 months of age, and pattern g in the group from 6 to 18. patterns d and g predominated in the bacterial meningoencephalitis. a higher heterogeneity was observed among the strains isolated from acute respiratory infections. some of the advantages of the heaemophilus influenzae strains subtyping method are stressed, such as: simplicity, easiness to be applied and interpreted, and the fact that it is not necessary a qualified personnel or a specialized laboratory for its implementation.