Articles / Infection Risk in Asplenia and Hyposplenism
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These are activities that expand general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to your scope of practice.
These are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work.
These are activities that use your work data to ensure quality results.
It is estimated that up to 25,000 Australians are affected by asplenia or hyposplenism.1 Many are unaware of the fact, and its potential consequences.
The spleen plays an important role in immune function, in particular the prevention of infection due to some specific organisms (Table 1).
Infection is a relatively common occurrence in those without a functioning spleen. Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI), occurs in up to 5% of asplenic patients and has a mortality rate of over 50%. The risk is particularly high in children aged under five, and in the first three years post-splenectomy. However, the risk is lifelong.1
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