The Pyrogenicity of Bacterial Contaminants Found in Biologic Products

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Abstract
The pyrogenicity of bacteria isolated from blood or plasma during the preparation of human plasma was detd. both qualitatively and quantitively for rabbits. Streptococci, staphylococci, micrococci, and bacilli of the groups subtilis, Corynebacterium, coli-aerogenes and Pseudomonas were represented. The Gram-negative bacilli were the most pyrogenic, the Gram-positive bacteria were 10-1000 times less pyrogenic. Some Gram-negative bacilli induced an immediate rise in temp. with rapid fall; others, and the Gram-positive bacteria, induced a slower rise preceded by a depression. Cultures grown in serum were much more pyrogenic than the same number of bacteria from an agar slant. Autoclaving for 15 min. did not destroy all pyrogenicity; pyrogenicity of Gram-positive bacteria was diminished more than that of Gram-neg. bacilli. The results indicate that the animal thermal test should be predicated upon a pyrogen-free control, and the temp. elevation above that induced by the control should be considered as being caused by pyrogen contamination.
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