title: Microbial surveillance during human pancreatic islet isolation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aim was to investigate the microbiological safety of islet isolation and transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1996 and 2002, prospective microbiological screening was performed on all pancreata procured for islet transplantation. Pancreas transport media and postpurification preparations were screened for microbiological contamination. Prior to isolation, pancreata were washed with either Hanks solution (group I, n = 170) or decontaminated with antiseptic and antimicrobial drugs (group II, n = 45).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microbiological contamination of the pancreas preservation media was shown in 62%. Analysis of the contaminants showed 74% gram-positive, 21% gram-negative organisms, and 5% fungi. The donor condition or procurement center did not influence the contamination rate. Longer pancreas transport duration was significantly associated with bacterial contamination (P <.05). In group I, 16 (9.4%) of 170 islet preparations presented microbial contamination at the end of the isolation procedures. Gram-positive organisms were present in 10 (6%), gram-negative organisms in 4 (2.4%), and fungi in 2 (1.2%) preparations. Four islet preparations (2.4%) from pancreata with noninfected transport medium were positive on postpurification cultures, all with gram-positive organisms. In group II, only 2 of 45 islet preparations (4.4%) presented microbial contamination at the end of the isolation process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of microbial contamination during pancreas procurement and transport is high. Significant contaminants present when beginning islet isolation become undetectable by the conclusion of isolation. Diminishing the bio-burden by pancreas decontamination reduces the risk of contamination of the final islet preparation.
authors.affiliation: Cell Isolation and Transplantation Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mathe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oberholzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andres
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buhler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004707:Endoderm / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018243:Teratocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors