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Burkholderia cepacia contaminating fresh frozen plasma causing transfusion transmitted bacterial infection
Vithiya G1, P Shunmuga Sundaram2, T Rajendran1
1Department of Microbiology, Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Madurai, India.
Abstract:
Bacterial contamination of plasma is unusual owing to frozen storage nevertheless reported. We report a case of transfusion transmitted infection due to Burkholderia cepacia contaminating fresh frozen plasma. A 31 year old male with decompensated chronic liver disease presented with breathlessness due to pleural effusion. Due to elevated prothrombin time, fresh frozen plasma was infused. After ten minutes of transfusion, he became febrile, tachypnoeic and transfusion was stopped. Plasma bag and blood cultures from patient grew B. cepacia. He became hemodynamically unstable due to underlying disease and died after a week.
Insights
Bacterial contamination of fresh frozen plasma is rare but can cause serious transfusion-transmitted infections. This case highlights a fatal Burkholderia cepacia infection from contaminated plasma in a patient with liver disease.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Bacterial contamination of blood products, including fresh frozen plasma (FFP), is a rare but serious risk.
- Frozen storage of FFP is intended to minimize bacterial proliferation, yet contamination events have been reported.
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