Prevalence of bacterial contamination in blood and blood products at the National Blood Service Zimbabwe

Abstract

Introduction: Advances in screening for infections improve the safety of donated blood. Transfusion-related bacterial sepsis, although not established in Zimbabwe, stills makes bacterial contamination of blood clinically relevant. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Harare. Bacteriological and antibiotic susceptibility testing were done using standard methods. Results: Of the 196 samples analyzed, 6 (3.1%) were contaminated with bacteria. Platelets had a significantly high contamination rate compared to other blood products. Bacteria showed varying patterns of susceptibility to the antibiotics tested. Conclusions: The prevalence of bacterial contamination in blood products suggests that patients who receive blood products are at risk of developing infection.

Platelet transfusion therapy in sub‐Saharan Africa: bacterial contamination, recipient characteristics, and acute transfusion reactions

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study in SSA to evaluate the rate of bacterial contamination using substantial numbers of platelet units, and it is also the first to report on platelet transfusion therapy and to prospectively study acute transfusion reactions to platelet transfusions in SSA outside of Namibia or South Africa. This study demonstrates that bacterial contamination of platelet units remains a significant issue in SSA, although the rate is not as high as might have been predicted based on previously published reports of contamination of whole blood and RBC units in SSA . However, Gram staining did not prove to be an effective tool for preventing the transfusion of bacterially contaminated platelet units.…”

“…However, in high‐income countries, bacterial contamination of platelet units is now the most common transfusion‐transmitted infection, with reports of bacterial contamination of platelet units ranging from 0.01% to 0.07% . In Africa, seven studies have evaluated the frequency of bacterial contamination, primarily in whole blood units and/or red blood cells (RBCs), with only three of the seven publications including platelet components . In those three studies combined, only 63 platelet units were tested .…”

“…[2][3][4][5] In Africa, seven studies have evaluated the frequency of bacterial contamination, primarily in whole blood units and/or red blood cells (RBCs), with only three of the seven publications including platelet components. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In those three studies combined, only 63 platelet units were tested. [6][7][8] All studies found alarmingly high rates of bacterial contamination-an average of 8.8% of units tested with a range from 3.1% (Zimbabwe) to 17.5% (Ghana) (summarized in Table 1).…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In those three studies combined, only 63 platelet units were tested. [6][7][8] All studies found alarmingly high rates of bacterial contamination-an average of 8.8% of units tested with a range from 3.1% (Zimbabwe) to 17.5% (Ghana) (summarized in Table 1). The rate of bacterial contamination of RBCs in high-income countries is lower than the rate in platelet units.…”

Bacterial surveillance of apheresis platelets in South Africa (January 2011 to December 2016)

“…Compared to what has been reported from other African countries ,the average unconfirmed South African AP contamination rate of 2·7% is comparable to the prevalence data from Uganda, below the rates published in Ghana and Zimbabwe and 10‐fold higher than the rate quoted for the high‐income countries .…”