Splenic Abscess

Christopher F. Carpenter, M.D., Nick Gilpin, D.O.
Splenic Abscess is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

To view the entire topic, please or .

Pediatrics Central™ is an all-in-one application that puts valuable medical information, via your mobile device or the web, in the hands of clinicians treating infants, children, and adolescents. Explore these free sample topics:

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

PATHOGENS

  • Polymicrobial in up to 25% including anaerobes.
    • Given that most splenic abscesses are secondary to bacteremia or fungemia (e.g., associated with endocarditis, UTI, pancreatitis, GI tract, etc.), the likely pathogen(s) are determined by original focus.
  • Gram-negative bacilli, especially
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococci
  • Enterococci
  • Anaerobes
  • Candida spp.
    • Neutropenia and chronic corticosteroid use predispose to candidal splenic abscesses.
    • Chronic disseminated candidiasis (formerly hepatosplenic candidiasis) often include frank candidal splenic abscesses.
  • Mycobacteria
    • Tuberculosis
  • Rare:

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or --

PATHOGENS

  • Polymicrobial in up to 25% including anaerobes.
    • Given that most splenic abscesses are secondary to bacteremia or fungemia (e.g., associated with endocarditis, UTI, pancreatitis, GI tract, etc.), the likely pathogen(s) are determined by original focus.
  • Gram-negative bacilli, especially
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococci
  • Enterococci
  • Anaerobes
  • Candida spp.
    • Neutropenia and chronic corticosteroid use predispose to candidal splenic abscesses.
    • Chronic disseminated candidiasis (formerly hepatosplenic candidiasis) often include frank candidal splenic abscesses.
  • Mycobacteria
    • Tuberculosis
  • Rare:

There's more to see -- the rest of this entry is available only to subscribers.