title: Postsplenectomy care. Strategies to decrease the risk of infection.
abstract: Primary care physicians need to be aware of the risk of infection following splenectomy, especially given the rapid onset and potentially fatal consequences of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. Risk is highest in children, in patients who had the operation within the previous 2 years, and in patients who underwent the procedure for treatment of lymphoma or thalassemia. Three types of preventive measures are recommended: immunoprophylaxis (vaccines); chemoprophylaxis (antibiotics); and education, ranging from providing a medical alert bracelet to teaching about symptoms of febrile illness to advising immediate treatment of even a minor dog bite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1829, USA.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins