Abstract

Background and Objectives

Bacterial infection following platelet transfusion is a major problem in transfusion medicine. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates collected at Kerman Regional Educational Blood Center.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 630 random samples of platelet transfusion in both groups (360 subjects using triple bags without sampling pouch and 270 samples using triple bags with sampling pouch) were selected. Bacterial growth of samples of platelet concentrates was studied in blood agar, EMB and thioglycollate broth after 48 hours at 37°C. SPSS 19 has been used for data analysis.

Results

Out of 630 samples of platelet concentrates studied, 5 (1.39%) were found positive for bacterial contamination all taken from the platelet samples prepared by triple bags without sampling pouch. The bacteria identified were as follows: Staph. Epidermidis (n = 3), Staph. saprophyticus (n= 2). In the platelet samples made from triple bags with sampling pouch, there was no contamination.

Conclusions 

Due to advances in the collection, preparation and storage of platelet concentrates, transmitted bacterial infection caused by contaminated platelets dropped significantly. This is due to the efforts of effective quality control processes to improve the quality of blood transfusion.