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Background There are no U.S. guidelines outlining the appropriate duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with anatomic or functional asplenia.DemographicsDuration of prophylaxis in patients with disorders of the spleen who have not undergone a surgical splenectomy†Duration dependent on splenic function testing; Minimum of 5 years but potentially lifelong with shared decision making Methods An online survey was sent to U.S. pediatric infectious diseases (ID), hematology/oncology (H/O), cardiology, and surgery subspecialists. Participants were asked about their prescribing practices in patients with asplenia. Descriptive analysis was performed.Duration of prophylaxis in patients who underwent a surgical splenectomy due to trauma†1 year after splenectomy or until 5 years of age, whichever is longer; Minimum of 1 year after splenectomy or until 5 years of age, but potentially lifelong with shared decision making; Do not manage patients >21 years of ageDuration of prophylaxis in patients who underwent a surgical splenectomy due to trauma according to subspecialty†1 year after splenectomy or until 5 years of age, whichever is longer; Minimum of 1 year after splenectomy or until 5 years of age, but potentially lifelong with shared decision making; Do not manage patients >21 years of age Results There were 68 respondents; 34% surgery, 32% ID, 21% H/O, and 13% cardiology. Approximately 1/3 had been practicing for < 10 yrs, 1/3 for 11-20 yrs, and 1/3 for > 21 yrs (Table 1). 39 respondents managed prophylaxis in patients with non-surgical disorders of the spleen; most prescribed prophylaxis until 5 years of age for patients with sickle cell disease, but duration varied for patients with congenital anatomic asplenia, situs inversus, polysplenia, and hereditary spherocytosis (Figure 1). 33 respondents managed prophylaxis in patients who underwent a surgical splenectomy due to medical conditions excluding trauma, and 35 prescribed for patients who underwent a surgical splenectomy ... |