Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in the elderly.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia occurred in 12 patients older than 60 years in a 15-month period. These patients represented approximately 11% of the 104 elderly patients with bacterial pneumonia in whom transtracheal aspiration was performed. Eighty-five percent of H influenzae isolates (12/14) recovered from elderly patients with pneumonia were nontypeable. Nontypeable H influenzae pneumonia occurred in the community, in nursing homes, and in the hospital. Patterns of both bilateral patchy bronchopneumonia and dense lobar consolidation were seen on chest roentgenograms.