[Postoperative pulmonary disease associated with haemophilus influenzae and neisseria meningitidis in a diabetic child].

Haemophilus influenzae is a saprophyte that colonizes the nasopharynx in nearly two thirds of children and adults. Neisseria meningitidis is a strict human bacterium which lives in the nasopharynx. It can cause benign nasopharyngitis or asymptomatic colonization. We report the case of a diabetic child with postoperative pneumonia associated with Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis. A 3-year old diabetic patient admitted to the Department of Cardiac Surgery due to delayed surgical treatment. The postoperative course was marked by a worsening of respiratory status caused by abundant secretions requiring patient admission to the intensive care unit. An assessment for the detection of infections was performed, including protected distal sampling which revealed the association of Neisseria meningitidis with Haemophilus influenzae. This case study allowed us to highlight bacterial associations in certain high-risk situations. Each of these two species is responsible for various infections. However their presence in the same infected site is rare.