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Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Recurrent infections in homozygous sickle cell disease
S A Magnus1, I R Hambleton, F Moosdeen
1The Medical Research Council Laboratories, University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 20, 1999
Summary
Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience invasive bacterial infections, with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Salmonella being common. Recurrent infections suggest a subgroup of SCD patients may have increased susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Homozygous sickle cell disease (SS) significantly increases susceptibility to invasive bacterial infections.
- Understanding the specific pathogens and their age-related incidence is crucial for managing SS disease complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the epidemiology of invasive bacterial infections in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease.
- To identify age-specific patterns and common pathogens associated with infection in this population.
- To investigate the implications for recurrent infections and patient susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 214 invasive bacterial infection episodes in 176 patients with SS disease.
- Identification of causative pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella spp., Haemophilus influenzae type b, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella spp.
- Examination of pathogen incidence based on patient age and sex, with a focus on recurrent infections.
Main Results:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b were most common in children under 5.
- Salmonella spp. incidence increased linearly with age.
- Escherichia coli infections predominantly affected older girls, and recurrent infection rates were significantly higher in a subgroup of patients.
Conclusions:
- Invasive bacterial infections in SS disease show distinct age-related pathogen patterns.
- A subset of SS disease patients exhibits heightened susceptibility to recurrent infections.
- Early and aggressive investigation for further infection is recommended for patients with previous bacteremia.
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