Transfusion-related bacterial sepsis

Curr Opin Hematol. 2001 Nov;8(6):380-6. doi: 10.1097/00062752-200111000-00011.

Abstract

Transfusion-associated bacterial sepsis is a persistent problem in transfusion medicine, posing a greater threat than the combined risks of receiving a blood product contaminated with HIV-1 or 2, hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human T-cell lymphtrophic virus (HTVL) -I or -II. This article provides a brief overview of the current incidence, clinical presentation, associated blood products and organisms, and the most feasible and effective methods available to reduce the potential risk of transfusion-associated sepsis. Because bacterial contamination of blood products is the most frequent cause of transfusion-transmitted infectious disease, and as no single existing strategy can completely eliminate its risk, it is important that clinical suspicion be high, and any partial solutions additively be implemented.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteremia / transmission
  • Blood Cells / microbiology
  • Blood Specimen Collection / standards
  • Humans
  • Sepsis / prevention & control
  • Sepsis / transmission*
  • Sterilization
  • Transfusion Reaction*