A devastating case of purpura fulminans in a young adult seven years after a splenectomy: a case report.
It is well known that asplenic patients can suffer immediate and long-term infective sequelae, most of all from capsulated bacteria, whereas appropriate immunization can reduce the incidence of postsplenectomy sepsis. We discuss the case of a young adult developing an overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis (OPSS) due to streptococcus pneumoniae seven years after the splenectomy for a traumatic injury. Neither immunoprophylaxis nor antibiotic therapy, whose value is underlined by literature data and international guidelines, was ever administered, either by the hospital physicians or by the general practitioner.
De Salvia
Alessandra
A
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. adesalvia@medicina.univr.it
Lanzara
Guido
G
De Leo
Domenico
D
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification