Platelet transfusion practice and related transfusion reactions in a large teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Platelet transfusion practice varies widely since many aspects of platelet concentrate (PC) use have not been definitively determined. The objectives of this retrospective study were to present platelet transfusion practice and evaluate PC and patient characteristics, as well as their association with transfusion reaction (TR) rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Platelet transfusions over a 5-year period were analysed regarding PC characteristics (the ABO and RhD compatibility, product type, and storage duration), patient characteristics (most responsible diagnosis, age, and gender), and TR type. RESULTS: A total of 46,351 PCs were transfused: 76.4% whole blood-derived (WBD) and 23.6% single donor apheresis (SDA). Three thousand seven hundred seventy-six patients received platelet transfusions: 24.7% paediatric and 75.3% adult patients, 79.6% outpatients and 20.4% inpatients. As much as 63.1% of all transfused PCs were fresh (stored for≤3 days), 98.0% ABO-identical, and 87.3% of all PCs given to RhD- patients were RhD-. PCs were mainly transfused to haemato-oncology (76.8%) and cardiovascular surgery patients (6.5%). Overall, 84 (0.18%) TRs were reported, with allergic TRs (ATRs) being the most common. Although PC ABO compatibility and storage duration, as well as patient age and gender, showed differences in TR rate, only the use of PCs in platelet additive solution (PAS) showed a statistically significant reduction of TRs (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Transfusion practice at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb resulted in almost all patients receiving ABO and RhD identical PCs, and most of them were fresh PCs. The most important factor affecting the incidence of TRs was platelet storage solution. The use of PAS effectively reduced the rate of TRs, particularly allergic TRs.

Morganella morganii causing fatal sepsis in a platelet recipient and also isolated from a donor's stool.

Bacterial contamination of blood products causes significant patient morbidity and mortality. Contaminated platelet transfusion is a frequent cause of bacteraemia and sepsis because of the storage conditions of platelets. A fatal case of Morganella morganii platelet transfusion associated with sepsis is described, along with procedures traced back to the isolation of M. morganii from a donor's stool. Molecular typing was performed, and the same M. morganii strain was found in blood and post-mortem organ cultures of platelet recipient and platelet bag and in the donor's stool. The route of contamination is unknown. The contamination could be due to either insufficient venipuncture site disinfection or the donor's transient bacteraemia. Patient died 5 days after the transfusion.