Fulminant Pneumococcal Sepsis in an Adult with Sickle-Cell Anemia

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Abstract
To the Editor: Overwhelming sepsis with encapsulated microorganisms, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae, are common causes of death in young children with sickle-cell anemia.1 However, fatalities of this type are rare after the age of 10. We recently treated a 29-year-old patient with sickle-cell anemia who died of fulminant pneumococcal bacteremia.The patient was admitted to Howard University Hospital with a one-hour history of fever, chills, and pain in the elbow and knee. He had homozygous sickle-cell disease documented by hemoglobin electrophoresis. He had not received the pneumococcal vaccine. The history revealed chronic leg ulcers and cholecystectomy. . . .

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