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Streptococcus bovis septic shock due to contaminated transfused platelets
Author(s) -
Chang Andrew H.,
Kirsch Carl M.,
Mobashery Niloufar,
Johnson Nancy,
Levitt Lee J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.20168
Subject(s) - platelet , septic shock , medicine , streptococcus bovis , sepsis , platelet transfusion , bacteremia , immunology , complication , hepatitis virus , virus , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibiotics , rumen , food science , fermentation
Although most physicians and the public are primarily concerned about the risk of transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis virus during a platelet transfusion, bacterial contamination is actually the most common infectious complication. Unlike red blood cells, platelets are stored at room temperature (20–24°C), which raises the risk of bacterial proliferation. The risk of bacterial sepsis is 2.5‐fold higher for each unit of transfused platelets compared to each unit of red blood cells. We report an unusual case of Streptococcus bovis septic shock associated with a contaminated platelet transfusion. Am. J. Hematol. 77:282–286, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.