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Microbial contamination of peripheral blood stem cell collections
H Attarian1, W I Bensinger, C D Buckner
1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Bone Marrow Transplantation
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Microbial contamination of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvests is low (0.23%). Even when detected, PBSC contamination rarely leads to infectious complications in PBSC transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Microbiology
- Transplantation
Background:
- Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation is a critical therapy.
- Assessing microbial contamination in PBSC harvests is essential for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence and impact of microbial contamination in PBSC harvests.
- To compare PBSC contamination rates with bone marrow cultures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 1263 PBSC harvests from 376 patients.
- Microbiologic culturing of collected PBSC samples.
- Analysis of contamination rates and patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- Overall microbial contamination incidence was 0.23% in PBSC harvests.
- Contamination rate was higher (47%) in patients not on systemic antibiotics.
- Contamination rates were significantly lower than bone marrow cultures (3.8%).
- Common contaminants included coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Streptococcus viridans.
- Two patients received contaminated PBSC components without subsequent infectious complications.
Conclusions:
- Microbial contamination of PBSC harvests is infrequent.
- PBSC contamination is less common than bone marrow contamination.
- PBSC contamination does not appear to be a significant factor in infectious complications post-transplantation.