Targeting of blood safety measures to affected areas with ongoing local transmission of malaria.

An outbreak of locally acquired Plasmodium vivax malaria in Greece started in 2009 and peaked in 2011. Targeting of blood safety measures to affected areas with ongoing transmission of malaria raised questions of how to define spatial boundaries of such an area and when to trigger any specific blood safety measures, including whether and which blood donation screening strategy to apply. To provide scientific advice the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) organised expert meetings in 2013. The outcomes of these consultations are expert opinions covering spatial targeting of blood safety measures to affected areas with ongoing local transmission of malaria and blood donation screening strategy for evidence of malaria infection in these areas. Opinions could help EU national blood safety authorities in developing a preventive strategy during malaria outbreaks.

A prospective, active haemovigilance study with combined cohort analysis of 19,175 transfusions of platelet components prepared with amotosalen-UVA photochemical treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A photochemical treatment process (PCT) utilizing amotosalen and UVA light (INTERCEPT(™) Blood System) has been developed for inactivation of viruses, bacteria, parasites and leucocytes that can contaminate blood components intended for transfusion. The objective of this study was to further characterize the safety profile of INTERCEPT-treated platelet components (PCT-PLT) administered across a broad patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This open-label, observational haemovigilance programme of PCT-PLT transfusions was conducted in 21 centres in 11 countries. All transfusions were monitored for adverse events within 24 h post-transfusion and for serious adverse events (SAEs) up to 7 days post-transfusion. All adverse events were assessed for severity (Grade 0-4), and causal relationship to PCT-PLT transfusion. RESULTS: Over the course of 7 years in the study centres, 4067 patients received 19,175 PCT-PLT transfusions. Adverse events were infrequent, and most were of Grade 1 severity. On a per-transfusion basis, 123 (0.6%) were classified an acute transfusion reaction (ATR) defined as an adverse event related to the transfusion. Among these ATRs, the most common were chills (77, 0.4%) and urticaria (41, 0.2%). Fourteen SAEs were reported, of which 2 were attributed to platelet transfusion (<0.1%). No case of transfusion-related acute lung injury, transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, transfusion-transmitted infection or death was attributed to the transfusion of PCT-PLT. CONCLUSION: This longitudinal haemovigilance safety programme to monitor PCT-PLT transfusions demonstrated a low rate of ATRs, and a safety profile consistent with that previously reported for conventional platelet components.

Infectious diseases prioritisation for event-based surveillance at the European Union level for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In 2012, London hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Games), with events occurring throughout the United Kingdom (UK) between 27 July and 9 September 2012. Public health surveillance was performed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Collaboration between the HPA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was established for the detection and assessment of significant infectious disease events (SIDEs) occurring outside the UK during the time of the Games. Additionally, ECDC undertook an internal prioritisation exercise to facilitate ECDC's decisions on which SIDEs should have preferentially enhanced monitoring through epidemic intelligence activities for detection and reporting in daily surveillance in the European Union (EU). A team of ECDC experts evaluated potential public health risks to the Games, selecting and prioritising SIDEs for event-based surveillance with regard to their potential for importation to the Games, occurrence during the Games or export to the EU/European Economic Area from the Games. The team opted for a multilevel approach including comprehensive disease selection, development and use of a qualitative matrix scoring system and a Delphi method for disease prioritisation. The experts selected 71 infectious diseases to enter the prioritisation exercise of which 27 were considered as priority for epidemic intelligence activities by ECDC for the EU for the Games.

Platelet gel stimulates proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Platelet gel is a source of many soluble proteins that can modulate tissue regeneration. Dermal fibroblasts play an important role in tissue remodeling and wound healing. OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to investigate the influence of platelet gel and its active ingredients on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. METHODS: A fibroblast culture was established from a normal human skin biopsy. Platelet gel was prepared from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) following the addition of calcified thrombin solution. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. RESULTS: We showed that platelet gel, PRP, and thrombin stimulate the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, and that stimulation by PRP is dose dependent. CONCLUSION: Platelet gel can be used to treat chronic skin defects.

Autologous placental blood transfusion after a planned neonatal pacemaker implantation.

A fetal third-degree atrio-ventricular block was diagnosed in a 22-year-old woman at 24 weeks of gestation. During clinical follow-up a mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation was detected at 35 weeks and maternal connective tissue diseases were excluded. Early postnatal cardiac pacing therapy was planned and autologous placental blood transfusion was proposed for the treatment of probable blood loss due to pacemaker implantation. A male infant was delivered at 38 weeks vaginally and 87 mL of placental blood was collected from the undelivered placenta. The placental blood was negative for viral markers and syphilis. Subsequent tests for bacteriological cultures were also negative. Within 6 h of delivery, the baby underwent cardiac pacemaker implantation and received 45 mL of autologous placental blood. Autologous placental blood transfusion was successfully used for the treatment of predicted blood loss after a planned neonatal surgical procedure.