Lifelong penicillin unproved in trials..

EDITOR, - The Editor's Choice in the issue of 27 November, which mentions the two articles and editorial on sepsis after splenectomy,*RF 1-3* highlights the possible medicolegal consequences if the advice given is not followed. We are concerned about the dogmatic nature of some of the recommendations.

We accept that after splenectomy there is a lifelong small risk of serious sepsis. We also accept the value of pneumococcal vaccine, support the recommendation that all patients who have had a splenectomy should be vaccinated, and are persuaded that revaccination every …