title: Spleen Australia guidelines for the prevention of sepsis in patients with asplenia and hyposplenism in Australia and New Zealand.
abstract: People with asplenia/hyposplenism are at increased risk of fulminant sepsis, which carries a high mortality rate. A range of preventive measures is recommended although there is ongoing evidence that knowledge of and adherence to these strategies is poor. There have been significant changes in recommended vaccinations since the previously published recommendations in 2008. We provide current recommendations to help Australian and New Zealand clinicians in the prevention of sepsis in patients with asplenia and hyposplenia. The guideline includes Australian epidemiological data, preferred diagnostic techniques and recommendations for optimal antimicrobial prophylaxis and vaccination protocols.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Dentistry and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kudzai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanhutu
authors.affiliation: Spleen Australia, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Spleen Australia, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology Unit, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Allen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Spleen Australia, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Pharmacy Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grannell
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland and Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: Spleen Australia, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Microbiology Unit, Department of Pathology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spelman
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013154:Spleen / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: asplenia; guideline; hyposplenism; prevention; sepsis