[Fatal Yersinia infection after intraoperative transfusion]

A 47-year old man was operated for a malignant tumour of the bladder. During cystectomia packed red cells had to be transfused. Minutes after the rapid transfusion the oxygen saturation dropped. In the following hours his circulation became unstable and the pulmonary function deteriorated. Signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred, making more transfusions necessary. Inspite of all intensive-care efforts the patient died with a multiorgan failure caused by endotoxin shock 66 hours after having received the first transfusions. In the blood cultures of the patient and in the cultures of the first transfused unit of packed red cells Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated.