title: Exchange transfusion for babesiosis when, how, and how long?
abstract: Babesiosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted by Ixodes ticks seen in the United States and parts of Europe. Because of the typically mild course of most infections, the disease is uncommonly seen in clinical practice. However, asplenic patients can develop a life-threatening infection. The first line of therapy forBabesiainfections is antiparasitic medications; however, red blood cell (RBC) exchange transfusion has been described as an adjunct therapy. We describe a severe case of babesiosis in an asplenic patient and review the evidence, indications, and protocols for RBC exchange transfusion in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Guru
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division Infectious Disease, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: O Horo
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Transfusion Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lehrke
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Transfusion Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division Infectious Disease, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wilson
keywords: Babesiosis; exchange transfusion; infection