CDC investigating sepsis cases after platelet transfusions

Editor's Note

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced June 14 in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that four hospital patients developed sepsis after receiving platelet transfusions contaminated with bacteria.

The CDC found that the platelets contained Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The agency is still investigating the source of the contamination. Preliminary analysis shows the patients' bacteria strains were closely related, which suggests they may be from a common source.

The infections occurred between May and October 2018 to four men in three states−two in Connecticut, one in Utah, and one in California. The Utah patient died of septic shock, and the other three recovered.