[Splenic abscess: clinico-microbiologic study of 15 cases]

Abstract

We have reviewed 15 cases of splenic abscesses diagnosed using a histopathological and microbiological study. Mean age was 48 years (range 18-78). Eight of them were male and 7 female. Eighty per cent of them had predisposing diseases, amongst which the most frequent were endocarditis and bacteriemia of other origin (26.6% in both cases). All patients presented fever and in 7 of them (47%) splenomegaly was appreciated. The most frequently isolated germs were gramnegative bacteria (33%), anaerobics (20%), and with a similar incidence grampositive bacteria, tuberculosis and fungii; in only one case cultures were sterile. Seven patients had multiple splenic abscesses and 8 patients single abscesses. Thorax x-ray showed alterations in more than half of the patients (53%). Abdominal echography was the diagnostic method in 67% of the patients and TAC in all the cases in which it was performed. Eight patients underwent splenectomy and one was surgically drained being the mortality rate of this group of 22%. Overall mortality was 33% and was related to the presence of multiple splenic abscesses (5/7, 71.4%), positive hemocultures (6/6, 100%), extrasplenic abscesses (7/8, 87.5%), and endocarditis (4/4, 100%), fungii infections (2/2, 100%), and late diagnosis (6/6, 100%).