Transfusion-mediated Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia in an adult patient with beta-thalassemia

We report a case of transfusion-mediated Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia in a 43-y-old woman with homozygous beta-thalassemia. Two h after transfus ion of 3 units of red blood cells the patient suffered high-grade fever and shaking chills. Y. enterocolitica serotype O3 grew in blood cultures. Prol onged treatment with i.v. ceftriaxone plus ciprofloxacin led to a favorable outcome. Transfusion-associated Y. enterocolitica septicemia has not previ ously been reported in an adult beta-thalassemic patient from the Mediterra nean area. Our report is particularly important, because of the high incide nce of chronically transfused thalassemic patients in Mediterranean countri es.