Understanding infection risks when living without a functioning spleen
People living without a functioning spleen have a lifelong risk of serious bacterial infections. The spleen plays an important role in fighting certain bacteria, especially encapsulated bacteria, which have a protective outer layer that makes them harder for the body to destroy.
Without a working spleen, the body is less able to remove these bacteria from the bloodstream, which means infections can become serious very quickly.
These infections most commonly affect the:
- Lungs (pneumonia)
- Blood (sepsis)
- Brain (meningitis)
If not treated quickly, these infections can lead to a rare but very serious condition called Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infection (OPSI).
OPSI can develop rapidly and become life-threatening within a short period of time, which is why early medical treatment is critical.