New technic for detection of bacterial contamination in a blood bank using plastic equipment

The prophylactic use of antimicrobials in surgery

During the period August 1976 to June 1982, there were 98 reports of antimicrobial prophylaxis in human surgery that were judged unevaluable. Our review, coupled with that of Chodak and Plaut, identified studies of 126 antibiotic regimens that were considered evaluable and a total of 205 studies considered unevaluable. A decrease in infection rate in antibiotic-treated patients compared to non-antibiotic-treated patients was seen in 120 (95%) of the evaluable regimens. Ninety-nine (79%) of these 120 regimens produced statistically significant reductions in the infection rate (P less than .05, chi 2 analysis). The majority of the antibiotic regimens were tested in procedures that were classified as clean-contaminated. Of the regimens that yielded a statistically significant reduction in infection rate with antimicrobial therapy, in 66 (67%) the agents were used for 24 hours or less. Five regimens were identified in which a higher infection rate occurred in specific patient groups when prophylactic antibiotics were used, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the overwhelming majority of evaluable studies, antibiotics decreased the incidence of surgical infection compared with non-antibiotic groups. The available data also support the effectiveness of short prophylactic antibiotic courses of 24 hours' duration or less. The duration necessary for antibiotic prophylaxis was specifically tested in nine regimens. In all nine, a short course (less than 24 hours) of antibiotic prophylaxis was as effective as longer periods of therapy (24 hours to 5 days) in preventing infection.

Effect of different resuspension media on the post-thaw characteristics of frozen blood

Red blood cells frozen by the low-glycerol fast-freezing technique were thawed, deglycerolized and resuspended in various media. The use of ACD-saline for resuspension markedly reduced in vitro haemolysis such that the red cells could be transfused up to 5 d after thawing. At this time the cells contained satisfactory levels of potassium and organic phosphates, while bacterial contamination was negligible. For the past 4 years we have operated a small bank of previously frozen red blood cells which were thawed and resuspended in this way. Over 3500 units have been transfused after 1--5 d post-thaw storage without untoward effects.

Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates stored at 20 degrees C

Qualitative and quantitative data on the bacterial contamination of 1000 platelet concentrates prepared and stored at 20 degrees C are presented. Using cooked meat medium the incidence of contamination was 6.3%. However, nutrient agar platelet counts showed the concentration of bacteria to be low. The clinical significance of these results is discussed.