Henrieta Hudečková1, Viera Švihrová1, Elena Nováková2
The Haemophilus influenzae serotype b is one of the most pathogenic causes of communicable diseases for humans. Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a common cause of respiratory infections, mainly in young children. The mandatory vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae serotype b began to be performed in Slovakia since 2000 and we used a conjugated vaccine containing a capsular polysaccharide during twelve years. The value of the conjugated vaccine lies in the fact that it is determined to vaccinate children to 2 years who are not able to form antigens against the polysaccharide vaccine. It is the small children who are the most in danger of invasive Haemophilus influenzae serotype b diseases such as meningitis, epiglotitis, pneumonia, sepsis, arthritis, osteomyelitis and cellulitis. We need to pay a close attention to all serious invasive diseases. Before the vaccination the highest incidence of Haemophilus influenzae b meningitis was among children of 0-5 years in Slovakia and oscillated from 2.5 to 7.7/100 000. The vaccination is very successful in countries where introduced but not influence global situation. Despite of that in the countries with vaccination of the children against the Haemophilus influenzae b the occurrence of invasive Haemophilus influenzea serotype b diseases decreased significantly.