The Journal of surgical research
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The enhanced risk of severe sepsis following splenectomy is now well recognized in both adult and pediatric patients. Prophylactic antibiotics and bacterial vaccines have been utilized with limited success to inhibit the high morbidity and mortality. This study reports the use of glucan, a beta-1,3-polyglucose, as a nonspecific immunostimulant for postsplenectomy pneumococcal sepsis. ⋯ Splenectomy alone did not significantly decrease phagocytic function. An increased leukocytosis in response to pneumococcal infection was observed in splenectomized glucan-treated animals. Nonspecific immunostimulation appears to have significant potential as a treatment strategy against postsplenectomy infection.