The effect of splenectomy on gram-negative XXXX .

@entity35 @entity295 @entity2259 @entity526
Both clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated an increased risk of @entity295 after splenectomy. The importance of the spleen in clearing a bacterial challenge from pneumococci or other encapsulated organisms is now well accepted. The role of the spleen in handling a @entity2259 due to nonencapsulated (Gram negative) organisms is not well established. @entity35 were subjected to either sham operation or splenectomy. Two weeks after surgery, all animals received 10(6) @entity526 by intraperitoneal injection. Tail vein blood samples for quantitative culture were obtained at multiple time intervals after the bacterial challenge. All animals developed a @entity2259 . Initially, the mean bloodstream bacterial counts were comparable in the sham and splenectomy groups. Sham-operated @entity35 cleared all bacteria from the bloodstream within 240 minutes. In contrast, 240 minutes after bacterial injection, @entity526 could still be recovered from the blood of asplenic @entity35 at levels comparable to those noted at the start of the experiment. The present study shows that splenectomy does impair the animal's ability to clear a @entity2259 .
