Prevention of Yersinia enterocolitica growth in red-blood-cell concentrates.
In response to concern about Yersinia enterocolitica contamination of blood products, we have studied the effects on Y enterocolitica growth of holding whole blood at 22 degrees C for 20 h and then removing leucocytes. Thirty pools of three bags of blood were inoculated with Y enterocolitica (2 x 10(1)-3 x 10(4) colony-forming units/ml). One bag in each pool was processed to red-blood-cell concentrate after 6 h at 4 degrees C (RBC); the other two were held at 22 degrees C for 20 h before processing to buffy-coat-depleted RBC (BCd-RBC). One of these bags was then depleted of leucocytes by filtration (Ld-RBC). All bags were stored at 4 degrees C for 5 weeks. RBC bags showed Y enterocolitica growth after the shortest storage times, followed by BCd-RBC then Ld-RBC (p less than 0.03-0.001). We recommend that whole blood should be held at 22 degrees C to make use of inherent bactericidal activity; leucocytes should then be removed.
Red Cross Blood Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
R N
RN
Pietersz
H W
HW
Reesink
W
W
Pauw
W J
WJ
Dekker
L
L
Buisman
D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000254:growth & development*