title: Guidelines for the prevention of sepsis in asplenic and hyposplenic patients.
abstract: Asplenic or hyposplenic patients are at risk of fulminant sepsis. This entity has a mortality of up to 50%. The spectrum of causative organisms is evolving as are recommended preventive strategies, which include education, prophylactic and standby antibiotics, preventive immunizations, optimal antimalarial advice when visiting endemic countries and early management of animal bites. However, there is evidence that adherence to these strategies is poor. Consensus-updated guidelines have been developed to help Australian and New Zealand clinicians and patients in the prevention of sepsis in asplenic and hyposplenic patients.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. d.spelman@alfred.org.au
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spelman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buttery
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jennens
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakakios
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torda
authors.forename: D A R
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Woolley
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Street
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*