Nontypable H. influenzae Nontypable H. influenzae is a common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults. Nontypable H. influenzae pneumonia is especially common among patients with COPD or AIDS. The clinical features of H. influenzae pneumonia are similar to those of other types of bacterial pneumonia (including pneumococcal pneumonia). Patients present with fever, cough, and purulent sputum, usually of several days' duration. Chest radiography reveals alveolar infiltrates in a patchy or lobar distribution. Gram-stained sputum contains a predominance of small, pleomorphic, coccobacillary gram-negative bacteria. Exacerbations of COPD caused by nontypable H. influenzae are characterized by increased cough, sputum production, and shortness.
