title: Experience with Splenic Abscess from Southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Splenic abscess is a rare entity with potentially life threatening complications. Sparse recent published data are available documenting the aetiological profile and management of patients with splenic abscess from India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical profile of splenic abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively collected data from case records of admitted patients with splenic abscesses, to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital which is a multispecialty, tertiary care referral hospital over a period of 15 months (from March 2014 to May 2015) and parameters studied were age, sex, symptoms, signs, risk factors, investigations like Ultrasound, CT scan, blood & microbiological culture, treatment and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most common presenting symptom was fever (90%). Mean age was 33.5 years. Five patients (55%) had risk factors like HIV, leukaemia and diabetes. From pus cultureEscherichia coliwas the most common organism (22%) grown.Staphylococcus saureus,Enterococcus faeciumwere seen in one each, blood culture grownCryptococcus neoformans,Pseudomonas aeroginosain one each,Plasmodium falciparumwas seen on peripheral smear in one. Three were empirically treated as disseminated koch's. Another was treated as possible infective endocarditis. All were given antimicrobials, five (55%) were treated with antimicrobials alone, three (33%) with PCD (Per Cutaneous Drainage) and one (11%) with sub-total splenectomy. All patients recovered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With early diagnosis and increased use of ultrasound guided procedures like aspiration or drainage, spleenectomy can be avoided. Optimal treatment for splenic abscess is yet to be defined and customized to each patient.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Mallikarjuna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Swaroopa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deme
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Neurology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Knkj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Krishna Prasad
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Adiraju
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Nageswar Rao
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Modugu
authors.affiliation: Additional Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Naval
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Additional Professor, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Amvr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narendra
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head, Department of General Medicine, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad, Telangana, India .
authors.forename: Sathyanarayana Raju
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Yadati
keywords: Mortality; Percutaneous drainage; Spleenectomy