Abstract
Bacterial contamination of autologous blood is a major risk factor in autologous blood transfusion. We report here a case of autologous blood transfusion contaminated with Pseudomonas putida and Comamonas acidovorans.
A 69-year-old male had planned to use 1, 200ml of autologous blood during a surgical operation. The first blood donation of 400ml harvested from the patient was sent to the Fukuoka Red Cross Blood Center for separation into red cell concentrate with MAP solution and fresh frozen plasma. These blood components were stored at the Blood Center until use.
Thirty-one days later, transfusion of the red cell concentrate in MAP solution from which coagulated blood had been removed was started in the patient. At 15min, the patient experienced chills and shaking. However, the transfusion was continued, until a high fever of 39.8°C was noted. At that time more than 200ml of autologous blood had been transfused. This blood was confirmed to be contaminated with P. putida and C. acidovorans., and showed a high concentration of endotoxin. The patient recovered well after appropriate treatment and eventually underwent successful a coronary artery bypass grafting.
