Biomaterial Database

Fulminant postsplenectomy sepsis. 1988

A C Perkins, and D E Joshua, and J Gibson, and H Kronenberg

Haematology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW.

The vital role of a normally-functioning spleen in a host's defence against circulating microorganisms has been realized for many years. The fulminant clinical course that characterizes infection with encapsulated microorganisms in asplenic patients is highlighted in these cases of severe pneumococcal sepsis in two patients, 10 and 13 years after splenectomies for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Approaches to the acute management of septic episodes and preventive measures are discussed. Pneumococcal vaccination reduces the incidence of infection effectively in asplenic patients and has a low complication rate. Penicillin by mouth is also efficacious in this situation, but patient compliance is low. Our current practice is to offer pneumococcal vaccination to all patients who have undergone splenectomy in the past and to administer the vaccine two weeks before elective splenectomies. Asplenic patients should be educated about the potential dangers of a septic episode and should be urged to seek an early medical consultation when this occurs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011008	Pneumococcal Infections	Infections with bacteria of the species STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE.	Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections,Infections, Pneumococcal,Infections, Streptococcus pneumoniae,Pneumococcal Diseases,Disease, Pneumococcal,Diseases, Pneumococcal,Infection, Pneumococcal,Infection, Streptococcus pneumoniae,Pneumococcal Disease,Pneumococcal Infection,Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D003131	Combined Modality Therapy	The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used.	Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D005734	Gangrene	Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply.	Gangrenes
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001428	Bacterial Vaccines	Suspensions of attenuated or killed bacteria administered for the prevention or treatment of infectious bacterial disease.	Bacterial Vaccine,Bacterin,Vaccine, Bacterial,Vaccines, Bacterial
D001706	Biopsy	Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body.	Biopsies