Two cases of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infection transmitted through transfusion of platelet concentrate derived from separate blood donations by the same donor.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections (TTBIs) in Japan have been largely prevented due to a short shelf life of 3.5 days after blood collection for platelet concentrate (PC) and washed PCs (WPCs; PC in which 95% plasma is replaced by platelet additive solution).

Case Presentation: Case 1: In January 2018, a woman in her 50s with aplastic anaemia who received WPC transfusion and developed a fever the next day and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) was detected in the residual WPC.

Association of Staphylococcus aureus in platelet concentrates with skin diseases in blood donors: Limitations of cultural bacterial screening.

Background: Bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates (PCs) is a major problem in transfusion medicine. Contamination with Staphylococcus aureus is occasionally missed, even with cultural screening.

Study Design And Methods: Donors implicated in S.

Establishment of transfusion-relevant bacteria reference strains for red blood cells.

Background And Objectives: Red blood cell concentrates (RBCC) are susceptible to bacterial contamination despite cold storage. A reliable evaluation of strategies to minimize the risk of RBCC-associated bacterial transmission requires the use of suitable reference bacteria. Already existing Transfusion-Relevant Bacteria Reference Strains (TRBRS) for platelet concentrates fail to grow in RBCC.

Different growth kinetics in blood components and genetic analysis of Lactococcus garvieae isolated from platelet concentrates.

Background: In 2014, we experienced the first isolation of Lactococcus garvieae from a platelet concentrate (PC). Thereafter, L. garvieae contamination of PCs occurred in two more cases in Japan.

Platelet safety strategies in Japan: impact of short shelf life on the incidence of septic reactions.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections (TTBIs) often have serious consequences for patients. The Japanese Red Cross (JRC) has not implemented culture screening for platelet concentrate (PC), but it has maintained a shelf life of 85 hours for PC.

Study Design And Methods: The JRC collected reports of suspected TTBI and investigated causal relationships using PC samples and patient blood samples.

First report of the isolation of Lactococcus garvieae from a platelet concentrate in Japan.

Background: Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) remains a serious problem in transfusion. We have been conducting sterility tests on all PCs rejected by blood centers or hospitals due to abnormal appearances. We recently experienced a case in which discrepant results were obtained between the methods used to identify a bacterial species isolated from a PC, requiring further analyses.