Transfusion-related bacterial sepsis

Transfusion-associated bacterial sepsis is a persistent problem in transfus ion medicine, posing a greater threat than the combined risks of receiving a blood product contaminated with HIV-1 or 2, hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepa titis B virus (HBV), and human T-cell lymphtrophic virus (HTVL) -I or -II. This article provides a brief overview of the current incidence, clinical p resentation, associated blood products and organisms, and the most feasible and effective methods available to reduce the potential risk of transfusio n-associated sepsis. Because bacterial contamination of blood products is t he most frequent cause of transfusion-transmitted infectious disease, and a s no single existing strategy can completely eliminate its risk, it is impo rtant that clinical suspicion be high, and any partial solutions additively be implemented. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.