Orchiepididymitis due to Haemophilus parainfluenzae: case report and review of the literature

Haemophilus parainfluenzae is part of the normal microbiota of the oral cavity and the upper respiratory tract. It is a recognised causal agent of endocarditis and, less frequently, of diseases such as pneumonia, sepsis, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, meningitis, and acute gastroenteritis. A case of orchiepididymitis in a young adult is reported, where H. parainfluenzae, confirmed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), was the only pathogen detected. This case contributes to assess the role of H. parainfluenzae as a human pathogen, isolated from sites other than the bloodstream and the respiratory tract.