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Transfusion-associated sepsis caused by Candida parapsilosis
1Department of Haematology, Hospital Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain. pinto@arrakis.es
Vox Sanguinis
|September 6, 2000
Summary
Bacterial contamination of blood transfusions is rare but deadly. This case report details the first instance of transfusion-associated sepsis caused by Candida parapsilosis, a yeast.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- Bacterial contamination of blood components poses a significant risk, despite its rarity, due to a high mortality rate.
- Transfusion-associated sepsis is a serious adverse event that can occur during blood product administration.
Observation:
- A patient with advanced ovarian cancer developed fever during a red blood cell transfusion.
- Blood cultures from both the patient and the transfused unit revealed growth of Candida parapsilosis.
Findings:
- The patient was treated with antibiotics and amphotericin, which controlled the fungal infection.
- Candida parapsilosis was identified as the causative agent of transfusion-associated sepsis in this case.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of vigilance for fungal contamination in blood products.
- It underscores the need for prompt diagnosis and appropriate antifungal treatment in suspected transfusion-associated fungal sepsis.