Reduction of Yersinia enterocolitica load in deliberately inoculated blood: the effects of blood prestorage temperature and WBC filtration.

Background: Yersinia enterocolitica is known to cause severe infections in patients who receive transfusions.

Study Design And Methods: The aim of the study was to define the best strategy for reducing the bacterial load in blood that was deliberately contaminated with Y. enterocolitica by combining prestorage temperature and WBC filtration with conditions of blood processing close to those applied in blood banks.