Bacteriological and serological findings in a further case of transfusion-mediated Yersinia enterocolitica sepsis.
A 13-year-old patient developed severe shock due to administration of a Yersinia enterocolitica-contaminated red blood cell concentrate. Y. enterocolitica (serotype O:9, biotype II) was cultivated from the residual blood in the blood bag and from a stool sample of the blood donor. In the donor's plasma immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgA, and IgG antibodies against Yersinia outer proteins (YopM, -H, -D, and -E) were found. Since the donor remembered a short-lasting, mild diarrhea 14 days prior to blood donation, a transient attack of Yersinia enteritis may be associated with a longer than expected period of asymptomatic bacteremia that causes contamination of donor blood. Serological screening for IgM antibodies against Yersinia outer proteins might offer a way to reduce the risk of transfusion-associated Y. enterocolitica sepsis.
Strobel
E
E
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Krankenhaushygiene, Städtisches Krankenhaus München-Schwabing, Städtisches Krankenhaus München-Schwabing, and Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. Mikrobiologie@kms.mhn.de
Heesemann
J
J
Mayer
G
G
Peters
J
J
Müller-Weihrich
S
S
Emmerling
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins