Spectrum of infections in splenectomised thalassaemia patients.
Med J Malaysia
; 65(4): 283-5, 2010 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21901946
ABSTRACT
Splenectomised thalassaemia patients are at risk of developing sepsis. As the infection may be life-threatening, treatment should be sought and given promptly. A retrospective study was performed amongst our thalassaemia major patients who were splenectomised. The vaccination status of each patient and the types of infections seen were reviewed to obtain a local perspective. In our cohort of 49 splenectomised patients, 25 patients required hospitalization for the treatment of infection. There were a total of 40 febrile episodes within this hospitalised group of which 27.5% were microbiologically documented infection with bacteraemia. The predominant causative organisms were gram negative rods and three patients succumbed to overwhelming septicaemic shock as a result of delayed presentation. Sixty percent of the febrile episodes were clinically documented infection and comprised mainly upper respiratory tract infections. Based on the spectrum of infections seen, there is a need to improve the patients' awareness level so that early treatment is sought. There is also a need to re-address the approach towards vaccination in this immunocompromised group of patients by administering a booster pneumococcal and influenza vaccination in an attempt to reduce morbidity.
Buscar no Google
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Esplenectomia
/
Talassemia
/
Sepse
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med J Malaysia
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article