Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Bone Marrow Transplantation Procedures in Mice to Study Clonal Hematopoiesis
Published on: May 26, 2021
Does microbial contamination influence the success of the hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes?
Mehmet Sinan Dal1, Emre Tekgündüz1, Merih Kızıl Çakar1
1Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
Introduction:
Microbial contamination can be a marker for faulty process and is assumed to play an important role in the collection of hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) and infusion procedure. We aimed to determine the microbial contamination rates and evaluate the success of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients who received contaminated products.
Patients-Methods:
We analyzed microbial contamination records of HPC grafts between 2012 and 2015, retrospectively. Contamination rates of autologous donors were evaluated for at three steps: at the end of mobilization, following processing with dimethyl sulfoxide, and just before stem cell infusion. Grafts of allogeneic donors were assessed only before HCT.
Result:
A total of 445 mobilization procedures were carried out on 333 (167 autologous and 166 allogeneic) donors. The microbiological contamination of peripheral blood (323/333 donations) and bone marrow (10/333 donations) products were analyzed. Bacterial contamination was detected in 18 of 1552 (1.15 %) culture bottles of 333 donors. During the study period 248 patients underwent HCT and among these patients microbial contamination rate on sample basis was 1.3 % (16/1212). Microbial contamination detected in nine patients (7 autologous; 2 allogeneic). In 8 of 9 patients, a febrile neutropenic attack was observed. The median day for the neutropenic fever was 4 days (0-9). None of the patients died within the post-transplant 30 days who received contaminated products.
Conclusion:
The use of contaminated products with antibiotic prophylaxis may be safe in terms of the first day of fever, duration of fever, neutrophil, platelet engraftment and duration of hospitalization.
Insights
Microbial contamination in hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) grafts is low (1.3%) and using contaminated products for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) appears safe, with no 30-day mortality observed. Further analysis indicates antibiotic prophylaxis may mitigate risks associated with contaminated HPC products.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Transplantation Science
Background:
- Microbial contamination of hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) grafts can indicate process issues and impact transplantation outcomes.
- Assessing contamination rates and their effect on hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) success is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of microbial contamination in HPC grafts.
- To evaluate the safety and success of HCT in patients who received contaminated HPC products.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of microbial contamination records for HPC grafts from 2012-2015.
- Evaluation of contamination rates at multiple stages for autologous donors and pre-HCT for allogeneic donors.
- Analysis of bacterial contamination in peripheral blood and bone marrow products.
Main Results:
- Overall bacterial contamination rate in HPC grafts was 1.15% (18/1552 cultures).
- Microbial contamination was detected in 1.3% (16/1212 samples) of grafts used for HCT in 248 patients.
- Nine patients received contaminated products; 8 experienced febrile neutropenia, but none died within 30 days post-HCT.
Conclusions:
- The use of contaminated HPC products, with antibiotic prophylaxis, did not lead to increased mortality within 30 days post-HCT.
- Contaminated products did not adversely affect key engraftment parameters or hospitalization duration.
- Findings suggest that HCT with contaminated products may be safe under specific conditions, warranting further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
01:24Tissue Transplantation
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...