Growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in platelet concentrates

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 29; no. 7; p. 596
• Main Authors: Punsalang, A, Heal, J M, Murphy, P J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.1989
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Platelets - microbiology; Blood Preservation; Enterococcus faecalis - growth & development; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Humans; Klebsiella pneumoniae - growth & development; Male; Staphylococcal Infections - etiology; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Temperature; Time Factors; Transfusion Reaction
• ISSN: 0041-1132
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1989.29789369676.x

In 1986 the allowable platelet storage time was reduced from 7 to 5 days because of a recent increase in septic deaths associated with platelet transfusion. In this study, the growth curves of two gram-positive and two gram-negative organisms in platelets stored for 7 days in CLX and PL-732 bags were evaluated. Platelets in CLX bags were inoculated with 10(1), 10(2), and 10(3) organisms and 10(2) organisms were introduced into PL-732 bags. Test organisms were inoculated into trypticase soy broth as a control. All four bacteria grew rapidly in trypticase soy broth, reaching 10(9) organisms per mL within 48 hours. In both CLX and PL-732 bags, the growth pattern of gram-positive organisms was generally logarithmic during the first few days of storage. A concentration of 10(8) organisms per mL was present by Day 3 or 4, after which further proliferation was inhibited by the high density of bacteria in the platelets. In PL-732 bags, the proliferation of gram-negative organisms followed a pattern similar to that of the gram-positive bacteria. However, gram-negative organisms grew less well in CLX bags.