Pediatric Oncology
Education Materials

Spleen and Immune System

Infection

Patients without a functioning spleen have a life long risk for serious bacterial sepsis³.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the commonest infecting organism, accounting for 50-90% of isolates from blood cultures in reported series³.

The risk is higher in children and in those who have had immunosuppressive treatment, and the risk remains lifelong.

Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI) occurs at an estimated incidence of 0.23-0.42% per year, with a lifetime risk of 5%³.

Episodes of OPSI are emergencies and require immediate parental antibiotics and intensive care; intravenous immunoglobulins may be useful.

OPSI carries a mortality of 38-69 %³.

Though Streptococcus pneumoniae is the commonest infecting organisms, other encapsulated bacterial infections are common. 

Infecting organisms can include:

• Other bacteria:
  • Salmonella typhi
  • Neisseria meningitidis
  • E. Coli
  • Hemophilus influenzae
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Ehrlichia (tick bourne bacterial infection)
• protozoal sepsis
  • Babesia (protozoal infection)

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