Fatal reaction to transfusion of red-cell concentrate contaminated with Serratia liquefaciens.
A 60-year-old woman undergoing surgery died from endotoxic shock and DIC after receiving a 19-day-old unit of optimal additive red-cell concentrate found contaminated with Serratia liquefaciens. No source of contamination could be found. This normally free-living organism is usually of low pathogenicity. It is a very unusual contaminant of stored donated blood, although it appears to be on the increase. When transfused, blood contaminated with S. liquefaciens always causes severe morbidity and is associated with a high death rate. This is the fifth report in the English literature.
Boulton
F E
FE
National Blood Service, Southampton, Centre, UK.
Chapman
S T
ST
Walsh
T H
TH
D001782:Blood Donors; D001793:Blood Preservation; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012705:Serratia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology*
D004731:Endotoxins