Bacterial contamination of blood components

Bacterial contamination of blood components is a persistent but often overlooked problem in transfusion medicine. Although public attention has focused on transfusion-transmitted viral infection, improved methods of screening through donor questioning and testing have greatly reduced the transmission of hepatitis viruses and retroviruses. Given the reduction of viral transmission via allogeneic blood, the risk of bacterial contamination has emerged as the greatest residual threat of transfusion-transmitted disease. Before recent developments in skin preparation, diversion, and testing for bacterial contamination, the incidence of platelet bacterial contamination was approximately 1 in 1000 components and septic reactions were reported with 1 in 15–100,000 transfusions. This chapter provides a brief overview of risks associated with blood components. The main focus is on approaches to minimize or eliminate the risk of bacterial contamination.