Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Resource for Exam Excellence!

The leading infectious cause of death in patients with Sickle Cell Disease is indeed associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease are at increased risk for infections due to their impaired spleen function, particularly in early childhood. A major complication of Sickle Cell Disease is functional asplenia or hyposplenism, which significantly reduces the ability to mount an immune response to encapsulated organisms.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common encapsulated bacterium that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis, making it particularly dangerous for these patients. Vaccination against pneumococcus is a critical preventive measure in this population to reduce the incidence of serious infections.

While Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Neisseria meningitidis are also notable pathogens that can cause serious infections, they do not have the same leading association with mortality in Sickle Cell Disease. The increased vulnerability to pneumococcal infections highlights the importance of prophylactic antibiotics and vaccinations in this patient population to help mitigate their risk and improve overall outcomes.