LETHAL WATERHOUSE-FRIDERICHSEN SYNDROME IN POSTTRAUMATIC ASPLENIA

We herein report a case of fulminant lethal Waterhouse-Friderichsen sy ndrome in an elderly female patient seven years after posttraumatic sp lenectomy. In contrast to various reports, this patient had not been v accinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Haemophilus influenzae, respectively, although infections with these microorganisms are known to cause the main lethal diseases in asplenic patients, Again, we recommend obligatory vaccinations against the men tioned bacteria for it is known that this decreases the risk of fatal septic events in these patients. To optimize prevention, it is imperat ive to vaccinate patients undergoing splenectomy before discharge from hospital.