Hae·moph·i·lus in·flu·en·zae type b (hē-mŏf'ə-ləs ĭn'flōō-ěn'zē') n.
Abbr. Hib A rod-shaped, gram-negative bacterium found in the human respiratory tract that causes acute respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, and other diseases, especially meningitis in young children.
[New Latin Haemophilus īnfluenzae, species name : Greek haima, blood + Greek -philos, -philous + New Latin īnfluenzae, genitive of īnfluenza, influenza.]
Main Entry: Hib Pronunciation: 'hib, "A-"chI-'bE Function: noun often attrib: a serotype of a bacterium of the genus Haemophilus (H.influenzae type B) that causes bacterial meningitis and pneumonia especially in children <Hib disease> Hib vaccine> —see CONJUGATE VACCINE