Synopsis

Spleen Australia was established as the Spleen registry in 2003 by Denis Spelman and Penny Jones, from the Alfred Hospital. It is a registry and clinical service for people of all ages who do not have a functioning spleen, and aims to reduce the incidence of overwhelming sepsis. Over 10,000 patients with asplenia/hyposplenism or after a splenic artery embolisation procedure are registered. The service is funded by state departments of health in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, and has strong collaborations with the paediatricians at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Speakers

A/Prof Denis Spelman is Medical Director of Spleen Australia, and Head of Microbiology and Deputy Director of Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health and coronavirus expert!

Ms Penelope Jones, co-founder and manager of Spleen Australia.  Penny is also a member of the Registries Special Interest Group at Monash University Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, and is a co-host on a community medical program, Melbourne radio station – 3RRR, called “Radiotherapy”.

Ms Sonja Elia is a Nurse Practitioner and Manager of Immunisation at The Royal Children’s Hospital.  Sonja will discuss the vaccines needed by children without a functioning spleen.