An opportunity for improvement in trauma care: 8-week booster vaccination adherence among patients after trauma splenectomy.

Background: Splenectomies are common after abdominal trauma, and measures must be taken to prevent infection, namely, the administration of available conjugate vaccinations against encapsulated organisms. While initial immunization is frequently completed prior to discharge, the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices recommends administration of an 8-week vaccination booster against S. pneumoniae, and compliance with this practice is unknown.