[Fulminant course of streptococcal-meningococcal infection--the OPSI syndrome (overwhelming postsplenectomy infection syndrome)].

On the basis of the foudroyant course of a streptococci-meningococci-sepsis in a 19-year-old splenectomized patient the importance of the spleen as an organ of important defence functions is described and the organ-preserving surgical treatment as prophylaxis of the OPSI-syndrome is demanded.