Transmission of symptomatic parvovirus B19 infection by fibrin sealant used during surgery

Human parvovirus B19 infection has been shown to be transmissible by blood and blood products and to result in transient aplastic crisis in patients w ith rapid red cell turnover. We report three cases of iatrogenic parvovirus B19 infection resulting from the use of the same batch of fibrin sealant u nder operation, Fibrin sealant, which is a typical haemostatic agent produc ed from blood, has been used during surgery. Human parvovirus is resistant to existing virus-inactivating techniques, suggesting that infection may oc cur from blood products contaminated with it. Use of recombinant products f or these proteins may thus he necessary.