[High incidence and mortality of systemic pneumococcal disease among persons without spleen]

We surveyed 472 cases of culture-confirmed systemic pneumococcal disease that were reported to the Norwegian Notification System for Infectious Diseases during a 12-month period in 1992-93. The clinicians in charge of the patients filled in a questionnaire providing information on underlying disease and outcome for 461 (98%) of the patients. Eight of these patients were splenectomized; all of them more than ten years before. Four died, two survived but had serious sequelae, and two survived without obvious sequelae upon discharge from hospital. Using a rough estimate of the prevalence of unvaccinated splenectomized persons in Norway, we estimate that this group, compared to the normal population, has a relative risk of 25 of developing systemic pneumococcal disease and a relative risk of 75 of dying from pneumococcal disease. The serotype of the pneumococcal strain that caused the disease was determined for seven of the eight patients. All serotypes were represented in the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. We strongly recommend that doctors trace and vaccinate splenectomized individuals.