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Fatal reaction to transfusion of red‐cell concentrate contaminated with Serratia liquefaciens
Author(s) -
Boulton,
Mary Chapman,
Martin A. Walsh
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1365-3148
pISSN - 0958-7578
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3148.1998.00119.x
Subject(s) - contamination , endotoxic shock , medicine , transfusion reaction , serratia , mortality rate , blood transfusion , shock (circulatory) , intensive care medicine , biology , surgery , bacteria , ecology , pseudomonas , genetics
A 60‐year‐old woman undergoing surgery died from endotoxic shock and DIC after receiving a 19‐day‐old unit of optimal additive red‐cell concentrate found contaminated with Serratia liquefaciens . No source of contamination could be found. This normally free‐living organism is usually of low pathogenicity. It is a very unusual contaminant of stored donated blood, although it appears to be on the increase. When transfused, blood contaminated with S. liquefaciens always causes severe morbidity and is associated with a high death rate. This is the fifth report in the English literature.