Ten years of Hib vaccination in Italy

The introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines has greatly reduced the incidence of invasive Hib disease. However, concern exists about the possible emergence of \"strain replacement\". We report the epidemiology and characterization of isolates from invasive H. influenzae disease in Italy through 2007-2009, 10 years after Hib vaccination was introduced.