Transfusion Reactions from Contaminated Blood

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Abstract
THE saprophytic bacteria that inhabit the premises where blood is collected, stored or transfused sometimes enter the bottles through carelessness and contaminate the blood itself. If large numbers of these contaminants are present in the transfused blood, they may lead to reactions, the violence of which depends on the properties of the contaminant. Gram-positive saprophytes, such as diphtheroids, have produced only fever and no serious constitutional disturbances.1 Gram-negative saprophytes, on the other hand, have been responsible for a type of overwhelming shock that is almost invariably fatal.2 3 4 5 Bacteremic shock induced by gram-negative bacilli usually occurs as a complication during the . . .