[Blood transfusion and bacterial risk]

Initial hemovigilance data confirm the incidence and severity of transfusion reactions due to the bacterial contamination of blood components (TRBC). With 18 deaths reported through the French hemovigilance network over the past 5 years, bacterial risks represent one of the major immediate complications of blood components (BC) transfusion. BC contamination may lead to more or less severe TRBC, depending on their origin: bacteria growth, the BC itself or unknown origin. Although the rate of donated blood or BC contamination is known (0.5% and 0.05%, respectively) it is still difficult to assess the actual incidence of TRBC, as it is difficult to identify them and relate them to transfusion. Likewise, better knowledge of bacteria, symptoms and outcome is required to improve prevention methods. Better prevention can reduce BC contamination and proliferation of bacteria at each stage of blood transfusion. Methods to detect BC contamination are still under investigation. Through continuous education of hemovigilance actors in identifying and dealing with TRBC, as well as drawing up procedures to perform inquiries and specific bacterial analyses, case reporting can be further improved in order to achieve more efficient prevention.