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Bacterial screening of platelet concentrates: results of 2 years active surveillance of transfused positive cultured units released as negative to date
Author(s) -
Koopman M. M. W.,
Van't Ende E.,
LieshoutKrikke R.,
Marcelis J.,
Smid W. M.,
De Korte D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2009.01221.x
Subject(s) - medicine , platelet , blood preservation , platelet transfusion , surgery , physiology
Background The BacT/ALERT system for bacterial monitoring of platelet concentrates (PCs) was introduced in the Netherlands in 2001. Samples are cultured for 7 days, and as a result of the short shelf‐life of PCs, they are usually released as ‘negative to date’. Therefore, some of the PCs have already been transfused at the moment of a positive signal in continued cultures in the BacT/Alert. It is unclear, however, whether these PCs are associated with more transfusion reactions. Methods During a 2‐year period clinical data were collected from all patients who received PCs released as ‘negative to date’ but with a positive bacterial culture after being transfused. Results Data of 158 patients who received PCs with confirmed positive bacterial culture tests were analysed. Two patients developed a transfusion reaction. In both PCs, Propionibacterium was cultured. The imputability as related to the transfusion was classified as unlikely in both patients. Conclusion Two of 158 transfusions of PCs released as ‘negative to date’, but with a confirmed positive BacT/ALERT result, were initially associated with transfusion reactions. However, the imputability of both reactions was low.