Bacterial contamination of platelet products is the most common transfusion-transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.). To mitigate this risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued draft guidance suggesting that additional safety measures beyond a primary bacterial culture for platelets are needed. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently highlighted in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that between May and October 2018, four patients from three states had sepsis after receiving apheresis platelets contaminated with Acinetobacter calcoacetius-baumanni complex (ACBC) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. All of the apheresis platelet units were collected using apheresis machines and collection sets from the same manufacturer. One of the products underwent pathogen inactivation and two of the products tested negative using a rapid bacterial detection device. Even with additional mitigation techniques, it is important to closely monitor transfusion recipients for the signs and symptoms of sepsis.
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