YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA SEPTICEMIA IN AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD-TRANSFUSION

Background: Increasingly, autologous blood transfusions are used in el ective surgical procedures to avoid the risk of infection due to allog eneic blood transfusion. Case Report: A 64-year-old patient had to und ergo the implantation of a total right hip endoprosthesis. During the transfusion of 1 unit of autologous packed red cells, the patient expe rienced high temperature and shock, which necessitated his observation in the intensive care unit for several days. Yersinia enterocolitica (type O:9) was isolated from the packed red cells, from the unit of fr esh-frozen plasma separated from the same donation, and from one blood culture drawn from the patient. With appropriate therapy, the patient recovered without sequelae. Conclusion: Although autologous blood tra nsfusions are safe with respect to transmission of human immunodeficie ncy virus or hepatitis B and C infections, the risk of bacterial septi cemia remains.