Presence of Copper- and Zinc-Containing Superoxide Dismutase in Commensal <i>Haemophilus haemolyticus</i> Isolates Can Be Used as a Marker To Discriminate Them from Nontypeable <i>H. influenzae</i> Isolates

Abstract

Respiratory isolates of Haemophilus haemolyticus are regularly misclassified as nontypeable (NT) Haemophilus influenzae due to an aberrant hemolytic reaction on blood agar, with implications for treatment. The presence of sodC or its cognate protein, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, can distinguish respiratory isolates of H. haemolyticus from NT H. influenzae with 100% accuracy.