[Disseminated intravascular coagulation and pneumococcal septicemia after splenectomy]

Two cases of fulminant pneumococcal septicaemia are reported. These occurred 18 and 25 years after splenectomy. These patients had not received pneumococcal vaccination. Disseminated intravascular coagulation developed early and was of decisive significance for the course of the illness with lethal issue. The characteristic clinical picture in pneumococcal speticaemia in asplenic patients may be misinterpreted initially as influenza and meticulous observation is therefore necessary and antibiotic treatment according to current guidelines should be initiated as early possible in febrile episodes.