Microbial Contamination of Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell / 대한수혈학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The incidence and clinical consequences of microbiological contamination of autologous peripheral blood stem cells are not well documented. Therefore, we retrospectively analysed our experience with microbial contamination of autologous peripheral blood stem cell concentrates. METHOD: We have determined the incidence and clinical significance of positive microbiologic cultures in series of 52 peripheral blood stem cell concentrates in 14 patients undergoing multiple apheresis procedures for autologous stem cell rescue. Specimens for bacterial cultures were obtained after processing of the autografts just prior to freezing. RESLUTS The incidence of microbial contamination was 7.7%. The microorganism cultured was coagulase negative Staphylococcus. The patient with contaminated leukapheresis products received two culture-positive stem cell concentrates and three culture-negative stem cell concentrates without adverse clinical sequelae. No microorganism present in the stem cell autograft was recovered in vivo in the posttransplantation period, although fever as a sign of infection occurred in this patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although microbial contamination may occur during autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection and cryopreservation, this report suggests that peripheral blood stem cell contamination may not play a significant role in the infectious complications of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.