[Update on prevention of infections in patients without spleen or with diminished splenic function]. / Update sulla prevenzione delle infezioni nei pazienti splenectomizzati o con iposplenismo funzionale.
Minerva Pediatr
; 65(4): 427-45, 2013 Aug.
Article
in It
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24051976
ABSTRACT
Patients without spleen or with diminished splenic function are at high risk (10-50 times higher than in normal population) of developing life-threatening infections (OPSI). Mortality from OPSI is estimated at 50 to 80% of cases. More frequent causative agents are encapsulated bacteria Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria Meningitidis. The risk of OPSI can be reduced by immunizing patients against these pathogens and by prescribing antibiotic prophylaxis. Continuous antibiotic prophylactic for 2-5 years after splenectomy (longer periods might expose the patients to the risk of antibiotic resistance) with penicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate acid is mandatory. Asplenic individuals should take empirical antibiotic therapy - so called "self-treatment" - and immediate medical consultation in presence of febrile illness. All patients and their parents should be carefully educated about the risk of infections in order to obtain a good long-term compliance with these recommendations.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Health context:
1_ASSA2030
/
3_ND
/
4_TD
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Postoperative Complications
/
Spleen
/
Splenectomy
/
Bacterial Infections
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Guideline
Limits:
Humans
Language:
It
Journal:
Minerva Pediatr
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article