Splenic Abscess: An Uncommon Entity with Potentially Life-Threatening Evolution

Abstract

Background/Purpose Splenic abscess is rare with potentially life-threatening evolution. The aim of this study is to review the clinical features, microbiological etiologies, treatment, and outcomes of patients with splenic abscess. Methods We reviewed the admitted patients with suspected splenic abscess and made the diagnosis of splenic abscess. The clinical characteristics, underlying diseases, treatment course, organism spectra, abscess number and size, therapeutic methods, and clinical outcome at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan over a period of 5 years were analyzed. Results Of 16 patients with splenic abscess, the male to female ratio was 1 : 1. Common presentations were fever (11 patients, 68.7%), diffuse abdominal pain (6 patients, 37.5%), left upper quadrant pain or tenderness (6 patients, 37.5%), and left-sided pleural effusions (8 patients, 50%). Antimicrobial therapy was administered in all patients. Fourteen (87.5%) patients recovered under medical treatment. One (6.2%) patient underwent splenectomy, four (25%) patients performed percutaneous drainage of their splenic abscess, and 11 (68.7%) patients received antimicrobial therapy alone. Conclusion We noted that mortality may be more related to patients with underlying immunodeficiency. Patients with splenic abscesses receiving antimicrobial therapy alone were in a relatively high proportion and got a good prognosis especially in patients with small and multiple abscesses.

Splenic Abscess: An Unusual Presentation of COVID-19?

“…It occurs often in patients with underlying disease. Immunosuppressed patients are one of the high-risk groups to develop splenic abscess, and mortality could be related to the underlying immunodeficiency [1].…”

Splenic abscess complicated by pleural empyema: A rare case report from rural Nepal

“…Splenic abscess which is uncommonly encountered during clinical practice has incidence of 0.05–0.7% in autopsy studies [ 1 ]. With the male preponderance, this clinical entity is most often seen in immunocompromised individuals [ 8 ].…”

“…Splenic abscess is an uncommon entity encountered in clinical practice with overall incidence around 0.05–0.7% in autopsy studies [ 1 ]. It generally occurs through hematogenous spread and typically follows endocarditis or seeding from contiguous sites of infection [ 2 ].…”

Splenic Abscess Caused by <i>Salmonella</i> Typhi: an Uncommon Presentation

“…infection of splenic infarction or contiguous infection by direct spread. The common infective organisms for splenic abscess are Staphylococcus aureus, various Streptococci, aerobic and anaerobic bacilli of intestinal flora and in rare instances Mycobacteria (5). Splenic abscess caused by S. Typhi is infrequent with an incidence < 2% (1,4).…”