Contamination Of Platelet Components Research Articles

Bacterial contamination of platelet components

Bacterial contamination of platelet components

The international experience of bacterial screen testing of platelet components with automated microbial detection systems: An update.

In 2014, the bacterial subgroup of the Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases working party of ISBT published a review on the International Experience of Bacterial Screen Testing of Platelet Components (PCs) with an Automated Microbial Detection System. The purpose of this review, which is focused on publications on or after 2014, is to summarize recent experiences related to bacterial contamination of PCs and the use of an automated culture method to safeguard the blood supply. We first reviewed septic transfusion reactions after PC transfusion as reported in national haemovigilance systems along with a few reports from various countries on bacterial contamination of blood products. Next, we reviewed PC automated culture protocols employed by national blood services in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and large blood collection organization and hospital transfusion services in the United States. Then, we acknowledged the limitations of currently available culture methodologies in abating the risks of transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection, through a review of case reports. This review was neither meant to be critical of the literature reviewed nor meant to identify or recommend a best practice. We concluded that significant risk reduction can be achieved by one or a combination of more than one strategy. No one approach is feasible for all institutions worldwide. In selecting strategies, institutions should consider the possible impact on platelet components availability and entertain a risk-based decision-making approach that accounts for operational, logistical and financial factors.

Bacterial Contamination of Platelet Units is an Under-Recognized Contributor to Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

BACKGROUND HAIs create a major logistical, financial and patient safety concerns within the healthcare system. Bacterial contamination of platelet components (PCs) is the most common, under recognized, infectious risk of transfusion and contributor to HAIs. Contaminated PCs can lead to central line-associated bloodstream infections, bacteremia, and sepsis, with major long term complications and/or death. While US blood centers employ primary bacterial culture screening (pBCS) today, FDA's Draft Guidance and Blood Products Advisory Committee recommend additional approaches to reduce continued risk including FDA-approved pathogen reduction technology (PRT). Our objective is to determine whether PRT is an effective means to reduce the infectious risk of PCs. METHODS We compiled national hemovigilance (HV) data (2006-2016) from the UK, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the US to examine use of pBCS and PRT with amotosalen/UVA and their associated reports of PC bacterial contamination and sepsis. RESULTS Introduction of pBCS decreased HV reports of PC bacterial contamination in the US by 72.5% (p 700,000 PRT PCs over the same time period. CONCLUSIONS pBCS does not eliminate the risk of bacterial contamination; In its Draft Guidance, FDA acknowledges this shortcoming and recommends further measures. In contrast, PRT inactivates a broad spectrum of pathogens present in PCs, regardless of low level contamination, eliminating the need for pBCS. PRT provides clinicians and patients with transfusion-ready PCs, mitigating the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections and representing an approach to increase hospital safety while reducing the financial challenges of transfusion-related HAIs.

Evaluation of bacterial inactivation in random donor platelets and single-donor apheresis platelets by the INTERCEPT blood system.

BACKGROUND:Blood transfusion of contaminated components is a potential source of sepsis by a wide range of known and unknown pathogens. Collection mechanism and storage conditions of platelets make them vulnerable for bacterial contamination. Several interventions aim to reduce the transfusion of contaminated platelet units; however, data suggest that contaminated platelet transfusion remains very common.AIM:A pathogen inactivation system, “INTERCEPT”, to inactivate bacteria in deliberately contaminated platelet units was implemented and evaluated.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Five single-donor platelets (SDP) and five random donor platelets (RDP) were prepared after prior consent of donors. Both SDP and RDP units were deliberately contaminated by stable stock ATCC Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, with a known concentration of stock culture. Control samples were taken from the infected units and bacterial concentrations were quantified. The units were treated for pathogen inactivation with the INTERCEPT (Cerus Corporation, Concord, CA) Blood system for platelets (Amotosalen/UVA), as per the manufacturer's instructions for use. Post illumination, test samples were analyzed for any bacterial growth.RESULTS:Post-illumination test samples did not result in any bacterial growth. A complete reduction of >6 log10 S. aureus in SDP units and >6 log10 Escherichia coli in RDP units was achieved.CONCLUSION:The INTERCEPT system has been shown to be very effective in our study for bacterial inactivation. Implementation of INTERCEPT may be used as a mitigation against any potential bacterial contamination in platelet components.

Bacterial contamination of platelet components: potential solutions to prevent transfusion-related sepsis

Bacterial contamination of platelet components (PC) is the most prevalent risk for transfusion-transmitted infection. Based on the recent studies with optimal culture methods of expired PC, the prevalence of bacterial contamination is estimated to occur in approximately one in 750 to one in 1000 PC. Only within the last few years have the magnitude of the risks and the range of clinical outcomes associated with bacterial contamination been extensively characterized. Despite increased recognition of bacterial contamination of PC, transfusion-related sepsis is infrequently reported. This has largely been attributed to passive reporting systems, and low levels of clinical awareness for transfusion-related sepsis by primary care physicians. The risk for transfusion of contaminated PC has generally been characterized per component. Importantly, because patients require repeated transfusions of PC during a period of transfusion-dependent thrombocytopenia, it is appropriate to express the risk to receive a contaminated PC on a patient exposure basis. Assuming that the average hematology oncology patient may receive seven PC during a 28-day period of support, the risk of exposure to a contaminated PC is in the range of one in 150 per patient. This level of risk would not be acceptable for other intravenous medications. With increased appreciation of the risk of bacterial contamination, methods were developed to limit the risk of transfusion-transmitted bacteremia. This article focuses on those interventions that have been implemented in routine practice. The most important methods employed to mitigate the risk are improved skin disinfection, initial blood draw diversion, bacterial detection and pathogen inactivation/reduction. These technologies are now undergoing increased use in the clinical practice of transfusion medicine. With increased use, additional data are being generated to more fully characterize the effects of these interventions. Improved disinfection, blood diversion and bacterial detection have decreased, but not resolved the risk of bacterial contamination. Pathogen inactivation/reduction offers the potential for a further substantial decrease of the risk for transfusion of PC contaminated with bacteria.

Bacterial contamination of platelet components: remaining risks after introduction of bacterial screening

Bacterial contamination of platelet components: remaining risks after introduction of bacterial screening

Antibiotic‐labeled probes and microvolume fluorimetry for the rapid detection of bacterial contamination in platelet components: a preliminary report

Approximately 1 platelet in 2000 components is bacterially contaminated. Most commonly, contaminating organisms are gram positive skin saprophytes (such as Staphylococcus sp. or Bacillus sp.). A novel approach to the rapid diagnosis of gram positive contamination by the use of a fluorescence-labeled antibiotic probe with affinity for the gram positive cell was investigated. Two isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis were inoculated into bags of Day 0 platelets. Quantitative cultures along with a semi-automated screening assay on a microvolume fluorimeter employing a fluorescence-conjugated vancomycin probe was performed for each day of storage. In addition, serial dilutions of the bacteria were added to sterile platelets to achieve a range spanning 10(1) to 10(8) CFUs per mL. All samples with a bacterial contamination of > or =10(5) CFU per mL were detected. Sterile samples were nonreactive. The entire procedure requires three pipetting steps and took less than 1 hour to perform. These preliminary results with the use of fluorescence-labeled antibiotics as probes combined with microvolume fluorimetry for the rapid detection of bacterial contamination of platelet components suggest that this is a promising approach. Further studies with additional organisms and alternative conjugates, bacteria, and antibiotics are underway.