title: Splenic abscess: clinical features, microbiologic finding, treatment and outcome.
abstract: Splenic abscess is a rare clinical entity but may be underreported. A retrospective study at Srinagarind Hospital revealed 60 cases of splenic abscess between 1992 and 2001. The causative organisms were identified in 41 cases (68.3%). Gram negative bacilli were commonly isolated and Burkholderia pseudomallei was the most predominant. Diabetes mellitus and leukemia were common underlying diseases found in 46.3 per cent and 9.7 per cent of culture confirmed cases, respectively. The patients usually presented with fever, left upper quadrant pain, tenderness and splenomegaly. Multiple abscesses were more commonly found in the melioidosis than in the non-melioidosis group (p = 0.032), but a single abscess was more commonly found in the non-melioidosis than in the melioidosis group (p = 0.032). Concurrent liver abscesses, often multiple, were not different in both groups. Antimicrobials alone were given in 66.7 per cent of cases with melioidosis and 64.7 per cent of non-melioidosis group. Splenectomy and percutaneous aspiration were performed only in 29.3 per cent and 4.9 per cent of cases with splenic abscess. The overall mortality rate of splenic abscess was only 4.9 per cent in the present series. In conclusion, splenic abscess is not uncommon. Burkholderia pseudomalleli is the most common causative agent found in the present series. Therefore, it should be targeted in the initial empirical antibiotic therapy before the culture results are available especially when multiple lesions in the spleen and concurrent multiple liver abscesses are seen. Prolonged treatment with appropriate antimicrobials alone is usually effective. Splenectomy and/or aspiration may be useful in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen Universitiy, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Apichat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sangchan
authors.forename: Piroon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mootsikapun
authors.forename: Pisaln
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mairiang
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents