Diagnosis: Transfusion-transmitted sepsis
• Red blood cell–associated transfusion-transmitted sepsis is estimated to occur in about 1:250,000 red blood cell transfusions.
• Gram-negative organisms, mostly Enterobacteriaceae, are the primary cause of red blood cell-associated transfusion-transmitted sepsis.
• Yersinia enterocolitica accounts for approximately 46% to 56% of cases.
• Serratia spp., Pseudomonas spp., Campylobacter spp., and Enterobacter spp. have also been implicated.
• The overall fatality rate is high due to the transfusion of preformed bacterial endotoxin and the consequent rapid onset of septic shock.
