Continued need for pneumococcal prophylaxis after splenectomy.
Two children died from pneumococcal infection five and eight years after splenectomy. Pneumococcal vaccination had not been given to either child. When the infection developed both children were not taking prophylactic penicillin. Vaccination and daily penicillin reduce the incidence of this complication and therefore we strongly recommend that both of these measures are continued indefinitely.
Murdoch
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IA
Department of Paediatrics and Intensive Care, Guy's Hospital, London.
Dos Anjos
R
R
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D010406:Penicillins; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines