Abstract
Impaired or lost function of the spleen (hyposplenism/asplenia) is associated with a lifelong risk of severe infections, mainly of bacterial aetiology. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilis influenzae Type B and Neisseria meningitis are the most important aetiological agents.
The clinical guidelines hereby presented were developed by a collective of specialists in infectious diseases, with the aim of standardising the treatment of patients with impaired or lost splenic functions (with the exception of haematological and haemato-oncological patients, who are normally tended to by specialists in haematology/haematology-oncology) in Czech Republic. Prevention based on adequate education and vaccination is particularly emphasized.
The issues of antibiotic prophylaxis and standby antibiotic therapy are discussed in a separate section.