OuterMembraneProtein Subtypes ofHaemophilusinfluenzae TypebIsolates Causing Invasive Disease inVictoria, Australia, from1988to1990

link cases ofHaemophilus influenzae typeb(Hib) disease inEuropeandtheUnitedStates. This reportdescribes OMP subtypes fromHibcases inVictoria, Australia, andcompares themwiththosepreviously reported. AllHibisolates frompatients withinvasive disease, admitted totheRoyalChildren's Hospital inMelbourne, Australia, between February 1988andFebruary 1990, were stored at-70°C. Casesofinvasive Hibdisease were defined asthoseinwhichHibwas isolated fromsamples ofblood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), orother normally sterile sites or fromthethroats or epiglottides ofpatients withlaryngoscopy-confirmed epiglottitis. Isolates were identified as Hib bycolonial morphology, Gramstain, requirement forX and V factors, andagglutination withcommercially available polyclonal Hibantiserum (Wellcome Diagnostics, Dartford, UnitedKingdom). OMP preparations were performed byamethodsimilar to thatofBarenkamp etal.(2), withmodifications. Cells were harvested bycentrifugation at3,000 x g for20minwashed, andresuspended in1.5mlof10mM HEPES(N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic