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Splenectomy vaccines — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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HardSurgery (post-operative, follow-up)Splenectomy vaccinesUSMLE Step 3

A 40-year-old man is scheduled for elective splenectomy for hereditary spherocytosis. He is clinically stable and surgery is planned in 3 weeks. He has no prior pneumococcal, meningococcal, or Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination documented. Which of the following is the most appropriate at this time?

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Correct answer: D — Administer indicated encapsulated-organism vaccines before surgery

Asplenia increases risk from encapsulated organisms; vaccination is ideally completed before elective splenectomy.

Reference: CDC Adult Immunization Schedule, 2025 addendum: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html