Sickle cell patients are at high risk for infection with which type of organisms due to splenic infarct?

Sickle cell patients are at high risk for infection with which type of organisms due to splenic infarct?

• A. Encapsulated organisms (S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, N. meningitidis)
• B. Gram-negative rods
• C. Anaerobes
• D. Fungi

Answer: (A)

In sickle cell disease, repeated splenic infarcts lead to functional asplenia, meaning the spleen can’t effectively clear bacteria from the blood. The spleen is especially important for defending against encapsulated organisms that have polysaccharide capsules and are hard to opsonize. Without a working spleen, these encapsulated bacteria—such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis—can cause severe, rapidly progressive infections. That’s why the risk is strongest for encapsulated organisms. Other types of bacteria, like certain Gram-negative rods, anaerobes, or fungi, aren’t as characteristically linked to asplenia in this context. Vaccination and prophylaxis target these encapsulated pathogens to reduce risk.

In sickle cell disease, repeated splenic infarcts lead to functional asplenia, meaning the spleen can’t effectively clear bacteria from the blood. The spleen is especially important for defending against encapsulated organisms that have polysaccharide capsules and are hard to opsonize. Without a working spleen, these encapsulated bacteria—such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis—can cause severe, rapidly progressive infections. That’s why the risk is strongest for encapsulated organisms. Other types of bacteria, like certain Gram-negative rods, anaerobes, or fungi, aren’t as characteristically linked to asplenia in this context. Vaccination and prophylaxis target these encapsulated pathogens to reduce risk.