YERSINIA-ENTEROCOLITICA SEPTICEMIA FROM TRANSFUSION OF RED-CELL CONCENTRATE STORED FOR 16 DAYS

Two cases of transfusion transmitted Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 3 , serotype 09 infection occurred in south east Scotland within four mo nths of each other. In one case, a 79 year old man died the day after receiving a unit of red cell concentrate that had been stored for 29 d ays after donation. In the second case a 78 year old man died three da ys after transfusion of a unit of red cell concentrate that had been c ollected 16 days before transfusion. The donors of both units had no s ymptoms attributed to gastrointestinal infection. Early outdating of b lood for transfusion after three weeks of storage is unlikely to eradi cate Y enterocolitica associated fatalities from blood transfusion, an d alternative methods should be considered.