title: Splenic abscesses at a tertiary medical center in Northern Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Splenic abscesses are uncommon. This study aimed at assembling the demographics, clinical features, microbiologic etiologies, imaging, treatments, and outcomes of patients with splenic abscesses at a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diagnosis of splenic abscess was made either by imaging studies associated with clinical symptoms and signs of infection, or by imaging studies associated with microbiological data or pathologic results. The clinical characteristics, isolated pathogens, and treatments diagnosed at a medical center in northern Taiwan between 2000 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 28 patients with splenic abscess, male patients accounted for 46% of the study population. The mean age of the patients at the time of presentation was 46.5 years (range 4 months to 85 years). Common presentations were fever (71.4%, 20 cases), abdominal pain (46.4%, 13 cases), cough or dyspnea (35.7%, 10 cases), splenomegaly (32.1%, 9 cases), and left-sided pleural effusion (32.1%, 9 cases). Leukocytosis was noted in 22 patients (78.5%). Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci were cultivated from six patients (21%). No specific pathogen was predominant in patients with splenic abscesses. The overall mortality was 14.3%, while the mortality among the patients treated with antimicrobial therapy alone was 5.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival rate was high in patients with splenic abscesses who received antimicrobial therapy alone. Percutaneous drainage can be used as an alternative choice for patients with severe co-morbidities or patients who are critically ill.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Keelung Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsiu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan; Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Microbiology Section, Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Pan
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan; Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: leecm4014@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015510:Clinical Medicine; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061848:Optical Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents