Final answer:
Pneumovax 23 is administered post spleen removal to prevent pneumococcal sepsis. It is one of the two pneumococcal vaccines, the other being PCV13, that are essential for preventing pneumococcal diseases, especially in individuals with increased risk due to surgical removal of the spleen or immune system deficiencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pneumovax 23 gets administered post spleen removal (or splenectomy) to prevent pneumococcal sepsis. This is because removing the spleen can increase the risk of severe infections due to the organ's role in fighting bacteria, particularly encapsulated organisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumovax 23, also known as the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), is designed to protect against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.
Antibiotics like penicillin are the first-line treatment against pneumococcal infections, but with growing antibiotic resistance, vaccines have become crucial in preventing these infections. Following splenectomy or for individuals with compromised immune systems, administration of pneumococcal vaccines like Pneumovax 23 is a key prophylactic strategy. While PCV13 is generally given to children younger than 2 years and adults older than 65 years, Pneumovax 23's utilization post spleen removal is part of a crucial preventive approach against pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis and sepsis.