Hereditary spherocytosis before and after splenectomy and risk of hospitalization for infection

Background The infectious burden in hereditary spherocytosis (HS) children before splenectomy has rarely been reported and the risk of severe postsplenectomy infection is controversial. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of pediatric patients with HS to evaluate the risk of infection presplenectomy and postsplenectomy. The primary outcome was any bacterial, Mycoplasma, or fungal infection that required hospitalization. The secondary outcomes were sepsis and septic shock. Appendectomized children were matched on age at surgery and enrolled as controls. Results In all, 232 patients were included. Before splenectomy, the primary outcome was identified in 51 (22.0%) patients, and the secondary outcome was identified in 1 (0.4%) patient. After splenectomy, the primary and secondary outcomes were detected in 8 (4.1%) and 1 (0.5%) patients, respectively. The risk of infection was higher presplenectomy than postsplenectomy (OR, 6.6; 95% CI, 3.0–14.2). HS patients had a higher risk of infection than the controls before surgery (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.3–5.9) but not after surgery (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.6–3.6). Conclusions HS patients who require splenectomy later in life had a high incidence of hospitalization for infections. In contrast, postsplenectomy risk of hospitalization involving infection or severe infection was low. Impact Patients with hereditary spherocytosis who require splenectomy later in life have a high risk of hospital admission for infections, especially those with severe hereditary spherocytosis. With vaccines or postoperative antibiotics, splenectomy does not increase the risk of infection or severe infections. Splenectomy may reduce the risk of hospitalization for infections by alleviating the complications of hereditary spherocytosis. With vaccines, prophylaxis, or advanced antibiotics, the benefits of splenectomy in children with hereditary spherocytosis and a heavy disease burden may outweigh the risks.