ArticleVox sanguinis2026
Bacterial screening of platelet donations in England, 2014-2023.
Article in Vox sanguinis, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Assessment of the efficacy of large volume delayed sampling primary culture and pathogen reduction in preventing septic reactions from platelet transfusions.Transfusion · 2026Review
- Low bacterial contamination rate in platelet components following primary culture screening: a Saudi Arabian experience.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesBacterial contamination of blood components is an ongoing problem in transfusion medicine. We analysed the bacterial screening data of platelets from England, 2014-2023, and compared this with data on reported near-misses and transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). MATERIALS AND
methodsAnonymized data on bacterial screening of pooled and apheresis platelet donations were reviewed, including the number of donations collected yearly, results from bacterial screening and time from sampling to detection. The findings were compared with data on near-misses and TTIs reported during the same period.
resultsScreening of 1249,513 apheresis and 1,495,707 pooled platelet donations identified bacterial contamination in 2949 donations, including 78 bacterial species. Over four-fold higher frequency of confirmed bacterial contamination was observed in pooled platelets compared to apheresis donations (0.09% [1096/1,249,513] vs. 0.02% [362/1,495,707], p < 0.0001). Rates of bacterial contamination of pooled platelet doubled during the study period. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly detected highly pathogenic bacterial contaminant (29/147, 19.7%; 15/29, 52% in apheresis platelets). It was also implicated in 1 confirmed case of bacterial TTI and in 8 of 10 reported bacterial near-miss cases.
conclusionIncreasing frequencies of bacterial contamination, mostly related to skin flora, were noted in pooled platelets. Furthermore, S. aureus was notably associated with near-miss events. Our findings demonstrate a limitation of bacterial screening, with evidence of bacterial growth after platelets were likely supplied for clinical use.
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