[jessaustin]

I haven't had a spleen in over twenty years. In my experience, asplenia has not led to sickness any greater than the norm. I have kept up with recommended vaccinations, but I'm personally not a very "clean" person. I get sick a couple of times a year, which seems typical, and I've only been memorably sick a couple of times since I lost my spleen. Certainly you and others have different experiences. Perhaps your antibiotic requirements are more related to surgical wound healing?

[jrabone]

No, it's standard UK practice, especially for the first 2 years after splenectomy. It does seem to vary around the world though.

[jessaustin]

Hmmm, it seems there is a nation even nuttier about antibiotics than we Americans. I've taken antibiotics twice, for a few days each time, since I lost my spleen: wisdom teeth and a three-week sickness. Perhaps for that reason, I completely recovered from my three-week sickness within hours of taking the first pill. IANAP, but I really wonder about a standard of care that includes two years of antibiotics for a common, uncomplicated condition. What if the newly-asplenic actually got an infection while on that regimen? How would they be treated then?