title: Infections in splenectomized patients. A study of 131 patients.
abstract: A retrospective study on infections was done on 131 patients (predominately adults) undergoing splenectomy with a median follow-up to 11 months. 43 patients died, and 23 of them were infected. Three succumbed primarily from their infection; in 9 the infection was a contributing factor; and 11 died primarily from their underlying disease with an associated infection. 64 patients had lymphoreticular malignancies, 53 had a nonmalignant condition and 14 had carcinomas. Infection rates were 42%, 42%, and 21% respectively. Bacteremia rates (all in adults) were were 5%, 4%, and 7% respectively. Over four-fifths of the infections were hospital acquired. 12 of 14 community onset infections occurred in patients with lymphoreticular malignancies.
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors