title: Bacterial contamination of blood components.
abstract: Blood for transfusion is a potential source of infection by a variety of known and unknown transmissible agents. Over the last 20 years, astounding reductions in the risk of viral infection via allogeneic blood have been achieved. As a result of this success, bacterial contamination of blood products has emerged as the greatest residual source of transfusion-transmitted disease. This paper summarizes the current status of detection, prevention, and elimination of bacteria in blood products for transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Medicine Service, CB 7600, University of North Carolina Hospitals, 101 Manning Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. Brecher@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brecher
authors.forename: Shauna N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*