Splenectomy --> increased risk of what?

[Jonari]

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woman involved in auto accident results in removal of her spleen. to which of the following pathogens would she have the most increased susceptibility?

a. babesia microti
b. bordetella pertus
c. c. dip
d. enteroaggressive e. coli
e. hpv

i got this wrong, was wondering what sd thinks about. i chose b, since bordetella is an encapsulated organism. figured splenectomy patients are highly susceptible to these infections, but that isn't the right answer.

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Bordatella doesn't actually invade the body. It just attaches to the respiratory epithelium and releases all its stuff. So, there's no increased risk of infection with Bordatella in asplenic patients. If it could get into the bloodstream, then yea, there'd be increased risk of infection with it. Luckily, it doesn't invade. Babesiosis, on the other hand, is more severe in asplenic patients because it gets into blood and they can't clear it that well.

 

[Phloston]

Without even reading the question, I can tell you it's Babesia. That's not because it's an easy question; it just happens to be that I've encountered two practice questions on this in the past, and I also had probably gotten confused with this at one point or another.

Babesia is in the blood, so IgG would help clear it via opsonization.

Choices B, C and D all are enteric, and would be cleared by IgA.

HPV would require cell-mediated immunity via CD8+ T-cells.

 

[Jonari]

Bordatella doesn't actually invade the body. It just attaches to the respiratory epithelium and releases all its stuff. So, there's no increased risk of infection with Bordatella in asplenic patients. If it could get into the bloodstream, then yea, there'd be increased risk of infection with it. Luckily, it doesn't invade. Babesiosis, on the other hand, is more severe in asplenic patients because it gets into blood and they can't clear it that well.

Touche, that's what Kaplan says as well, however your explanation is more thorough and better.

Without even reading the question, I can tell you it's Babesia. That's not because it's an easy question; it just happens to be that I've encountered two practice questions on this in the past, and I also had probably gotten confused with this at one point or another.

Babesia is in the blood, so IgG would help clear it via opsonization.

Choices B, C and D all are enteric, and would be cleared by IgA.

HPV would require cell-mediated immunity via CD8+ T-cells.

Just a testament to show that doing practice questions builds a good foundation on concepts that are asked over again. When I saw borda. I was happy to recall that small Kaplan fact about it being encapsulated, however got 😱😕👎 when I saw that wasn't the right answer.

 

[Dixe Reb]

Bordatella doesn't actually invade the body. It just attaches to the respiratory epithelium and releases all its stuff. So, there's no increased risk of infection with Bordatella in asplenic patients. If it could get into the bloodstream, then yea, there'd be increased risk of infection with it. Luckily, it doesn't invade. Babesiosis, on the other hand, is more severe in asplenic patients because it gets into blood and they can't clear it that well.

Man, you're good. That was an excellent answer. This site always amazes me. Way to go!