SEVERE INFECTIONS PREVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH ASPLENIA AND HYPOSPLENIA: A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Spleen is one of the most important peripheral organs of the immune system because it plays a decisive role in the regulation of immune homeostasis due to its ability to bind innate and adaptive immunity. Reduced spleen function (hyposplenia) and asplenia are risk factors for the development of fulminant sepsis caused by encapsulated bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Systematic and long-term treatment approaches after splenectomy can significantly reduce the risk of infection with encapsulated organisms among patients with asplenia and hyposplenism. This bibliographical review represents a few out of the most common forms of asplenia and hyposplenia in the immunologists’, hematologists’ practice and highlights the issue of vaccination and prophylactic antibiotic therapy in this group of patients as well since this aspect is a long-term perspective for preventing of fatal complications.