[Branhamella catarrhalis in infectious pathology of the respiratory tract].

Branhamella catarrhalis has long been considered as a commensal of the upper respiratory tract. However, since 1972 several studies have shown that it can be responsible for respiratory tract infections. By isolating this micro-organism in sputum or nasal smear of 44 hospital patients we were able to confirm this finding, while delineating some of the clinical features of the infections observed. In all 44 patients these were mild infections, yet treatment appeared to be necessary in view of the risk of severe infection (B. catarrhalis septicaemia) in subjects with poor general condition. The germ is usually sensitive to antibiotics other than beta-lactam antibiotics (58% of the strains isolated were found to produce a beta-lactamase).