Postsplenectomy sepsis syndrome. How to identify and manage patients at risk.

Established postsplenectomy sepsis syndrome, although infrequent, may carry a mortality rate of over 90%. Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) has been the infective organism in more than 50% of published cases. Certain groups, such as infants, patients with hematologic malignancy, and those with compromised humoral immunity, may be especially susceptible. However, even healthy individuals who have been splenectomized because of trauma may be affected. Within the general population there is a significant pool of asplenic or functionally hyposplenic patients who are not aware of their condition. Efforts must be made to identify any such individual at risk for the postsplenectomy sepsis syndrome. The new 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine should be made available to any asplenic or functionally hyposplenic individual. A high index of suspicion must be maintained for febrile illness in asplenic patients, and if such an illness occurs, a vigorous investigation is mandatory.