Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
I don't have a spleen, what are my chances for getting systemic sepsis?
6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Higher but still low: There is no published data on rates of sepsis or septic shock in patients with splenectomies (or who are congenitally apslenic, or functionally asplenic from other causes); your risk is higher due to susceptibility to encapsulated organisms. Hopefully, if it was a planned splenectomy you had a pneumonia vaccine prior to your surgery. The vaccine is less useful (or even useless) afterwards.
Answered 12/8/2012
6.1k views
See below: In children an incidence of post splenectomy sepsis(pss) is one per 175 patient-years. Pss frequency is more variable in adults one case per 400 to 500 patient-years. To lower your risk you should have received pneumococcal vaccine, conjugated hemophilus influenza polysaccharide vaccine and quadrivalent polysaccharide Meningococcal vaccine. You should receive an influenza vaccine each year.
Answered 6/28/2014
5.4k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
My spleen was removed, am I more likely to get sepsis if I catch haemophilus influenza?
9 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
Chances of getting sepsis from symptomless UTIs in people who are asplenic (those without a spleen)? Is that rare or something to be concerned about if asplenic?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
I had my spleen removed when I was younger, am I more susceptible to sepsis?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
I am 28. Had my spleen removed 12 years ago due to trauma. How do I go about preventing sepsis as well as catching infections early enough?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Silly Question Can a person get sepsis, if they don't gave septicemia ? Or do you firstly have to have septicemia in order to get sepsis.?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
People also searched for:
Chances of sepsis or complications from owning a dog when I do not have a spleen? Thank you?
My spleen was removed, am I more likely to get sepsis if I catch salmonella enteritidis?
My spleen was removed, am I more likely to get sepsis if I catch neisseria meningitidis?
My spleen was removed, am I more likely to get sepsis if I catch streptococcus pneumonia?
My spleen was removed, am I more likely to get sepsis if I catch capnocytophaga canimorsus?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
