SPLENIC ABSCESS IN CHILDREN

Aspirates from splenic abscesses obtained from 11 children were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. A total of 16 organisms were recovered—eight aerobic or facultative bacteria, seven anaerobic bacteria, and one Candida species. Aerobic or facultative bacteria were recovered in five patients (45%), anaerobic bacteria were recovered in only three (27%), mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were found in two (18%), and Candida species were found in one (9%). Of the six aerobic infections, only one was polymicrobial, whereas of the five anaerobic infections, four were polymicrobial. Anaerobic bacteria were recovered in splenic abscesses that were associated with other infections where these organisms predominated (peritonsillar abscess, chronic mastoiditis, and abdominal infection). In contrast, the source of an aerobic splenic abscess was either endocarditis salmonellosis in a patient with sickle cell anemia or candida abscess in a patient with leukemia. This study highlights the importance of anaerobic bacteria in splenic abscesses in children.