Five years' experience of bacteraemia in sickle-cell anaemia

In a review of all adults admitted with sickle-cell anaemia to Cook County Hospital between January 1980 and April 1985, 15 instances of bacteraemia were identified. In these patients, bacteraemia was characterised by slow onset, an identifiable focus of infection and lack of hypotension or abnormal coagulation of the blood. The organisms, most often isolated were Escherichia coli and Salmonella species. Two patients died, both with Salmonella enteritidis bacteraemia. Neither death could be attributed to the acute effects of infection. The outcome of bacteraemia in adults with sickle-cell anaemia appears to be more favourable than that in children.