Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Test 2025 - Free CEN Practice Questions and Study Guide

The condition characterized by a lack of spleen is post-splenectomy. The spleen plays a critical role in the immune system, particularly in filtering bacteria and managing the bodies immune response to infections. When an individual has undergone splenectomy, which is the surgical removal of the spleen, they become more susceptible to infections, particularly from encapsulated organisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Post-splenectomy patients are at increased risk for certain life-threatening infections due to their compromised ability to respond effectively to these pathogens. This surgical intervention is significant in the context of immunocompromised individuals, as it directly affects their immune function.

Conditions like HIV infection, corticosteroid therapy, and diabetes can contribute to an immunocompromised state but do not inherently involve the absence of the spleen. Thus, the choice reflecting the lack of spleen directly correlates to post-splenectomy.