[Fulminating pneumococcal septicemia (author's transl)].

Two cases of fulminating pneumococcal septicemia (FSP) are reported, and 47 confirmed cases were discovered after a review of the published literature. The syndrome is that of a malignant infection with fever, collapse, and disseminated intravascular coagulation, with a rapid mortal outcome in most cases. Etiologically, FSP is usually the consequence of functional or anatomical asplenia, and the relative frequency of this affection after splenectomy following trauma confirms this observation. Lack of a splenic filter and a deficiency in the phagocytic system are the reasons for microbial proliferation in the blood, and the lymphocytic defence mechanisms are inactive because of the absence of any focus of infection.