Branhamella catarrhalis as a cause of bacteremic pneumonia

Abstract

A new enzyme immunoassay was used to confirm the pathogenetic role of Branhamella catarrhalis in a diabetic young man with pneumonia affecting the left lower lobe with pleural involvement. His temperature rise was only minimal, but his ESR and blood leucocyte count were elevated and one blood culture grew B. catarrhalis. The levels of branhamella antibodies of the IgG and IgA classes were high and rose during the infection.