The High Council for Public Health (HCSP) is updating its 2012 recommendations on how to respond to cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection (IIHi), taking into account changes in the epidemiology of these infections in the post-vaccination era in France. Indeed, as in the rest of the world, the 2000s were marked by the regular emergence of untypable strains among the elderly and a resurgence of Hib cases among young children despite high vaccination coverage.

The advisory expands the recommendations—which had previously focused on serotype b—to include all capsulated strains (a through f) and takes into account non-capsulated strains, known as untypable strains. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for contacts (the detailed definition of which is provided in the advisory) of a case of invasive infection caused by a capsulated strain. However, antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended for cases associated with untypable strains, except in the case of clusters.

Since the rifampicin prescribing information makes no explicit mention of prophylaxis for IIHi, the HCSP proposes regimens modeled after those used for antibiotic prophylaxis of invasive meningococcal infections, but for twice the duration.

The opinion also recommends verifying the vaccination status of all at-risk contacts, calls for the reporting of vaccination failures, and advocates for the implementation of universal hygiene measures.

Finally, the HCSP emphasizes the importance of integrated surveillance that combines clinical, microbiological, and genomic data with carrier surveillance. These data will be essential for adapting future vaccination and prevention strategies