Related Experiment Videos
Prestorage removal of Yersinia enterocolitica from red cells with white cell-reduction filters
D M Kim1, M E Brecher, L A Bland
1Section of Transfusion Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Abstract:
Prestorage removal of phagocytic white cells (WBCs) may increase the survivability of contaminating bacteria in units of stored red cells. Fourteen units of whole blood were inoculated with 65 colony-forming units per mL of Yersinia enterocolitica (serotype O:3) and processed into AS-3-preserved red cells. Five red cell units were filtered with a prototype third-generation filter and five red cell units with a second generation filter. WBC reduction was performed on the day of collection. Four red cell units were not filtered. Three noninoculated whole blood units served as negative controls; two were filtered (one with each type of WBC-reduction filter) and one remained unfiltered. All red cell units were then stored at 4 degrees C for 42 days. One of the five filtered red cell units (20%) in each filter group supported growth of Y. enterocolitica. In contrast, 4 (100%) of 4 unfiltered inoculated red cell units had growth (p = 0.04). Overall, 2 (20%) of 10 units of WBC-reduced red cells supported the growth of Y. enterocolitica, as compared to 100 percent of unfiltered red cell units after inoculation (p = 0.015). Bacterial contamination was not detected in any of the three noninoculated units. It can be concluded that prestorage WBC filtration significantly reduces the potential for growth of Y. enterocolitica in red cells stored at 4 degrees C for 42 days.
Insights
Prestorage white blood cell (WBC) filtration significantly reduces bacterial growth in stored red blood cells. This method enhances red cell safety by preventing contamination by Yersinia enterocolitica.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Microbiology
- Blood Banking
Background:
- Phagocytic white blood cells (WBCs) in stored red blood cells may support bacterial growth.
- Yersinia enterocolitica is a potential contaminant in blood products.
- Reducing WBCs before storage is a strategy to improve blood product safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of prestorage WBC filtration in preventing the growth of Yersinia enterocolitica in AS-3-preserved red cells.
- To compare the effectiveness of second-generation and prototype third-generation WBC filters.
- To assess the impact of WBC reduction on bacterial survivability during cold storage.
Main Methods:
- Whole blood units were inoculated with Yersinia enterocolitica and processed into AS-3-preserved red cells.
- Red cell units were filtered using second-generation or third-generation WBC filters, or not filtered.
- Filtered and unfiltered units were stored at 4°C for 42 days, with subsequent analysis for bacterial growth.
Main Results:
- Bacterial growth of Yersinia enterocolitica was observed in 100% of unfiltered inoculated red cell units (4/4).
- Only 20% (1/5) of red cell units filtered with each type of WBC-reduction filter supported bacterial growth.
- Prestorage WBC filtration significantly reduced the potential for Yersinia enterocolitica growth compared to unfiltered units (p = 0.015).
Conclusions:
- Prestorage WBC filtration is an effective method to reduce the risk of Yersinia enterocolitica contamination in stored red blood cells.
- WBC reduction significantly lowers bacterial survivability in red cells during 42 days of cold storage.
- Filtration technology demonstrates a substantial improvement in the microbiological safety of red cell products.