Primary care physicians need to be aware of the risk of infection following splenectomy, especially given the rapid onset and potentially fatal consequences of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. Risk is highest in children, in patients who had the operation within the previous 2 years, and in patients who underwent the procedure for treatment of lymphoma or thalassemia. Three types of preventive measures are recommended: immunoprophylaxis (vaccines); chemoprophylaxis (antibiotics); and education, ranging from providing a medical alert bracelet to teaching about symptoms of febrile illness to advising immediate treatment of even a minor dog bite.