Vnitr Lek 2012, 58(9):665-667

Warning about risk of invasive infections in splenectomized patients. Experiences from University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic, in 2011

P. Polák^1,*, M. Freibergerová¹, P. Husa¹, P. Šlesinger¹, R. Svoboda¹, J. Stašek², L. Frola³, C. Macháček³

¹ Klinika infekčních chorob Lékařské fakulty MU a FN Brno, pracoviště Bohunice, přednosta prof. MUDr. Petr Husa, CSc.

² Klinika anesteziologie, resuscitace a intenzivní medicíny Lékařské fakulty MU a FN Brno, pracoviště Bohunice, přednosta prof. MUDr. Pavel Ševčík, CSc.

³ Ústav patologie Lékařské fakulty MU a FN Brno, pracoviště Bohunice, přednosta doc. MUDr. Josef Feit, CSc.

Syndrome of fulminant sepsis in splenectomized (overwhelming postsplenectomy infection - OPSI) is feared and often fatal infectious complication in patients after splenectomy. The risk of syndrome of fulminant sepsis in splenectomized in these persons persists lifelong and doesn't diminish during the time. Etiologically, encapsulated bacterias like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae group b and Neisseria meningitidis are involved. As the mortality of syndrome of fulminant sepsis in splenectomized is very high, it is indispensable to educate and vaccinate persons in risk. The authors present case reports of three splenectomized patients who were hospitalized for invasive pneumococcal infection in the University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic, in 2011.

Keywords: splenectomy; OPSI syndrome; vaccination; pneumococcus

Received: February 27, 2012; Accepted: April 13, 2012; Published: September 1, 2012  Show citation