Pneumococcal infection transmission between family members with congenital asplenia: A case report

BACKGROUND: Asplenia, the lack of a spleen, can be congenital and increases susceptibility to severe infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae). We report two cases of severe pneumococcal infection in two asplenic family members living in the same household. CASE SUMMARY: Patient 1, a 38-year-old man with a history of congenital hepatitis B infection and hypospadias, was brought to our emergency department with complaints of cyanosis, cough, and edema of his limbs. He was clinically diagnosed as hyposplenic with overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis. He was admitted to the intensive care unit and was administered antibiotics and catecholaminergic therapy but died 2 h after admission. Patient 2, a 63-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes, was brought to our emergency department one month after admission of Patient 1. She was diagnosed as asplenic with overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis. History-taking revealed that she was the mother of Patient 1 and the two had lived in the same household. She was admitted to the intensive care unit and was rapidly provided antibiotics and catecholaminergic intervention but died one day after admission. CONCLUSION: Pneumococcal bacteremia caused by virulent S. pneumoniae may be transmitted within households. All residents of households where individuals with pneumococcal bacteremia are living should be educated about the risk of transmissibility. Family members of patients with congenital asplenia/hyposplenia, all family members should be examined to assess their splenic function.