Pneumococcal vaccine administration associated with splenectomy: the need for improved education, documentation, and the use of a practical checklist.

An audit was performed of the documentation of pneumococcal vaccination in splenectomy patients in three major hospitals involving a geographical population base of 350,000 patients in British Columbia, Canada. Overall, 111 of the 164 hospitalized splenectomy patients (68%) had received pneumococcal vaccination. Of elective splenectomy cases, only 11 of 55 (20%) had been vaccinated prior to surgery, as is currently recommended. One hundred fifty-five patients (95%) had splenectomy status mentioned in the discharge summary. However, only 35 (21%) had mention of vaccination status, 10 (6%) mention of the need for future revaccination, and only 8 (5%) notation of the possibility of future infectious risks. The rate of pneumococcal vaccination was as satisfactory as any reported in the literature to date. However, there is need for improved education in relation to the timing of vaccination and discharge summary documentation. A checklist for potential splenectomy patients may aid in improving this situation as may geographically based splenectomy registries. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.