Do you recommend lifelong antibiotic prophylaxis, or do you prefer a more selective approach based on risk factors in asplenic patients without a history of severe infections?
Community PollStarted
What is your general approach to antibiotic prophylaxis after splenectomy in immunocompetent adults without history of sepsis?
41 physicians have voted
Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.
2 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Infectious Disease · Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Answered on
The advice is limited by the fact that there are no randomized controlled trials in adults on daily antibiotic prophylaxis post-splenectomy. There are trials in children with sickle-cell disease that do show a benefit, but it is not clear that these can be extrapolated to splenectomized adults. Furt...
Join for free or sign in to see the full answer
Mednet Member
Infectious Disease · Beebe Infectious Disease
Answered on
My habit has been to counsel the patient and provide amox-clav to be self-administered in case of any fever or rigors, etc. if he cannot see a physician promptly. Then call physician for follow up as soon as available.
If the patient has one episode of true sepsis, hospitalized with invasive Haemoph...
Join for free or sign in to see the full answer