Bacterial Contamination of Blood Components

Linda A Smith; Michelle S Wright-Kanuth

doi:10.29074/ascls.16.4.230

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Linda A Smith, PhD CLS(NCA)⇑
1. is Professor and Graduate Program Director at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio TX
Michelle S Wright-Kanuth, PhD CLS(NCA)
1. is Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX

Address for correspondence: Linda A Smith PhD CLS(NCA), Professor and Graduate Program Director, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio TX 78229-3900. (210) 567-6689, (210) 567-8875 (fax). smithla{at}uthscsa.edu

Extract

As discussed in one of the companion articles, significant progress has been made in reducing the transfusion transmission of viral infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Serologic testing of donors has decreased the risk for acquiring some viral diseases to less than one in a million. Now however, bacterial contamination of blood products has assumed a major role as a cause of morbidity and mortality in recipients of blood products.^1,2 Although overall risk for acquiring a transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection is still relatively low, methods to detect infected donors are not available as they are for detection of virally-infected donors. Therefore, detection of bacterial contamination is more problematic and is usually recognized only when the recipient has a severe reaction following administration of the blood component. In fact, after acute hemolytic transfusion reactions, bacterial sepsis is the next most frequent causes of transfusion related fatalities.^3,4

In this article we will discuss the major organisms associated with bacterial contamination of blood components, studies of prevalence of bacterial contamination and transfusion associated sepsis, and the methods developed or in development to detect and/or prevent contamination.

BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION Bacterial contamination of blood units occurs at any one of the following points: collection, processing, pooling of components, or transfusion. Infrequently, it may be due to transient bacteremia in the donor.^5-7 High bacterial concentrations are often responsible for a serious septic or fatal reaction in the recipient with most of these reactions occurring in the elderly, neonates, or patients immunocompromised by illness or…

ABBREVIATIONS: AABB = American Association of Blood Banks; BaCon = bacterial contamination associated with transfusion reactions); CFU = colony forming units; RBC = red blood cell; SHOT = serious hazards of transfusion; UVA = ultraviolet A light.