TRANSFUSION REACTIONS RELATED TO BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION - REVIEW OF PUBLISHED LITERATURE AND FRENCH HAEMOVIGILANCE DATA

The impact of transfusion reactions related to bacterial contamination (TRBC) of labile blood products (LBP) was identified in France soon a fter the implementation of the haemovigilance system. The aims of our communication were: 1) to confront published data on TRBC with availab le French data; 2) to describe measures implemented in France to preve nt TRBC. Bacterial contamination of whole blood at the collection stag e is found in 0.6 to 3% of blood donations. Systematic bacteriological controls detect frequent contaminations of LBP that vary according to studies and the nature of the product. The incidence of clinical TRBC was only estimated in recipients with malignant diseases. Based on Fr ench haemovigilance data, the incidence was estimated to two per 100,0 00 delivered units. The measures taken were the diffusion of informati on and recommendations and the implementation of studies. In the frame work of the Bacthem study (a national case-control study on LBP-relate d bacterial contamination), standardised diagnostic criteria are appli ed to suspected TRBC notified to the Centre National d'Hemovigilance. Expected results should allow us to estimate the incidence of TRBC in France and to determine the recipients or situations at risk more prec isely, in order to target additional preventive measures. Preliminary results, 11 months after the beginning of the study, show the feasibil ity and the relevance of completing the surveillance with specific stu dies within the haemovigilance network. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.