Septic Transfusion Reactions
Septic Transfusion Reactions (also known as "bacterial contamination of blood products") are, in the eyes of most observers, a thankfully uncommon complication of blood transfusion.
However, in light of the fact that we are getting better all the time at preventing transfusion-transmitted viruses, preventing transmission of bacteria is gaining more and more attention. In addition, bacterial contamination is one of the more common things that can potentially go wrong in autologous transfusions (giving blood for your own use at a later time).
A group of workers in Transfusion Medicine are convinced that bacterial contamination of blood products is more common than we had previously believed. Some even go so far as to advocate routine sterility checks of stored units before transfusion. I'll tell you that I personally feel that might be a bit of overkill, but I do believe that contamination probably happens more often than we actually diagnose it.
Whatever your personal belief on the frequency of bacterial contamination, I think that I could safely state without fear of retaliation from either camp that these reactions are certainly frightening in their potential severity, and that early diagnosis and intervention are absolutely crucial in patients who receive a tainted blood product. This section will outline how to get a jump on the Septic Reaction and treat it early and well.
Incidentally, those of you with a Blood Bank background may wonder why I am using the term "septic reaction" rather than "bacterial contamination". It's because I'm lazy and "Septic reaction" is easier to type. Really. I'm not kidding.
The following sections will outline the presentation, diagnosis, pathophysiology, treatment, and perhaps most importantly, prevention of septic transfusion reactions.
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