title: Overwhelming pneumoccoccal sepsis in two patients splenectomised more than ten years previously.
abstract: Asplenic individuals are known to be at a higher risk of developing serious and occasionally fatal sepsis. Prophylactic measures are generally recommended for the first few years post-splenectomy. We report two cases of severe Pneumococcal Sepsis occurring more than 10 years post-splenectomy leading to prolonged hospitalisation and long term morbidity and suggest that Prophylactic Penicillin should be taken life-long.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors