ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Increasingly, autologous blood transfusions are used in elective surgical procedures to avoid the risk of infection due to allogeneic blood transfusion. CASE REPORT: A 64-year-old patient had to undergo the implantation of a total right hip endoprosthesis. During the transfusion of 1 unit of autologous packed red cells, the patient experienced high temperature and shock, which necessitated his observation in the intensive care unit for several days. Yersinia enterocolitica (type O:9) was isolated from the packed red cells, from the unit of fresh-frozen plasma separated from the same donation, and from one blood culture drawn from the patient. With appropriate therapy, the patient recovered without sequelae. CONCLUSION: Although autologous blood transfusions are safe with respect to transmission of human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B and C infections, the risk of bacterial septicemia remains.
Subject(s)
Blood Transfusion, Autologous/adverse effects , Yersinia Infections/transmission , Yersinia enterocolitica , Erythrocytes/microbiology , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A new technique is described for the quantification of erythrocyte-associated immunoglobulin G (EAIgG). Enzyme immunometric assay (EIMA) measures the consumption of enzyme-labelled anti-human globulin. Thus, the release of cellular enzymes is avoided and, thereby also falsification of the results owing to the antigen-antibody reaction taking place in media of differing molarity and ionic strength (as is inevitable in red cell lysis assays). This consumption technique is more sensitive than simple "sandwich" procedures. The measurement of minimal amounts of physiologically bound EAIgG is, moreover, possible.
