Serious infections in adults following splenectomy for trauma.

Postsplenectomy sepsis in children is a well-recognized hazard. Few reports discuss the risk of sepsis in the asplenic adult. Case reports of 47 adults with serious infections following splenectomy for trauma were examined. We conclude that fulminant sepsis after splenectomy for trauma in adults is indeed a potential risk and that all such patients should receive penicillin prophylaxis and pneumococcal vaccine.