Quality Improvement After Multiple Fatal Transfusion-Transmitted Bacterial Infections.

Objectives: Transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection (TTBI) from platelet components is likely underrecognized and can be fatal. Twenty-four-hour prospective culture was felt to be insufficiently preventive after multiple TTBIs occurred and strategies to improve safety were sought.

Methods: Two fatal and one severe TTBIs occurred from a split-apheresis platelet donation contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae.