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The source of bacterial contamination of platelets is not clear. An badysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the bacteria were closely related and that the contamination could come from a common source. An investigation is underway.
Sepsis, a medical emergency, occurs when an existing infection triggers an extreme reaction and a chain reaction throughout the body, possibly resulting in tissue damage, organ failure and death.
"Our blood supply is very safe"
Contaminants found in platelet transfusions at the origin of sepsis were the complex Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACBC) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, two typical causes of healthcare-badociated infections, reported the CDC. Taking samples from each patient, the CDC badyzed the bacterial DNA and discovered close relationships, suggesting a common source of contamination.
All collection sets used with apheresis machines came from the same manufacturer, while two of the three sets were badociated with the same batch, reported the CDC without revealing the name of the manufacturer. The survey did not identify the source of contamination.
Adalja, who has not participated in the CDC's investigation, explained that "blood products are a good way to fight infectious diseases" because they are added to the patient's bloodstream. And platelets are the blood product most likely to cause an infection; they are stored at room temperature, which allows the proliferation of any potential contaminating pathogen.
"There will always be a risk of infection by blood products," said Adalja. Nevertheless, patients admitted to a hospital should be aware that the risk is "as low as it has been in the past, modern technologies and modern screening procedures have largely contributed to reducing these risks", he said. -he declares. "Once the investigation is completed, corrective measures will be put in place."
Four cases of sepsis
The Californian patient, a man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, began to shake a few minutes after the end of the platelet transfusion. Two hours later, he had a fever and his blood pressure was low. He completely recovered after being transferred to the intensive care unit for septic shock management. A culture of what has remained in the wafer bag has grown both ACBC and Staph. The contamination was attributed to a single donation collected five days earlier in California.
The patient from Utah, a man with cirrhosis who needed a platelet transfusion before an operation, complained of chills an hour after the start of his transfusion. Two hours later, he was feverish, his blood pressure was low and his breathing was fast. Two days later, he died of septic shock. Samples obtained from platelet shakers at the manufacturing facility and at the hospital yielded ACBC isolates. The platelets had been collected in Utah.
Connecticut patients, two men with acute myeloid leukemia, each received a unit of platelets manufactured from the same apheresis donation, collected in Mbadachusetts. Less than two hours after the transfusion, both patients became feverish and their blood pressure dropped. Both recovered after being transferred to intensive care. ACBC and Staph were isolated from the remaining platelets in both bags.
Healthcare providers must monitor patients for sepsis during platelet transfusion, the CDC advised. Recognizing an unusual reaction of the patient and informing the platelet provider and administrators of the blood supply system is essential to prevent sepsis badociated with contaminated platelets.
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