Death from Transfusion-Transmitted Anaplasmosis, New York, USA, 2017

Ruchika Goel; Lars F Westblade; Debra A Kessler; Maroun Sfeir; Sally Slavinski; Bryon Backenson; Linda Gebhardt; Kathleen Kane; Jeffrey Laurence; Douglas Scherr; James Bussel; J Stephen Dumler; Melissa M Cushing

doi:10.3201/eid2408.172048

Death from Transfusion-Transmitted Anaplasmosis, New York, USA, 2017

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Aug;24(8):1548-1550. doi: 10.3201/eid2408.172048.

Authors

Ruchika Goel, Lars F Westblade, Debra A Kessler, Maroun Sfeir, Sally Slavinski, Bryon Backenson, Linda Gebhardt, Kathleen Kane, Jeffrey Laurence, Douglas Scherr, James Bussel, J Stephen Dumler, Melissa M Cushing

Abstract

We report a death from transfusion-transmitted anaplasmosis in a 78-year-old man. The patient died of septic shock 2 weeks after a perioperative transfusion with erythrocytes harboring Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The patient's blood specimens were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA beginning 7 days after transfusion; serologic testing remained negative until death.

Keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; New York; United States; anaplasmosis; bacteria; leukoreduction; red blood cell transfusion; transfusion-transmitted infectious disease.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification*
Anaplasma phagocytophilum / pathogenicity
Anaplasmosis / diagnosis
Anaplasmosis / etiology*
Anaplasmosis / microbiology
Anaplasmosis / pathology
Anemia / pathology
Anemia / therapy
Erythrocyte Transfusion / adverse effects*
Factor XI Deficiency / pathology
Factor XI Deficiency / therapy
Fatal Outcome
Humans
Male
Perioperative Period
Shock, Septic / diagnosis
Shock, Septic / etiology*
Shock, Septic / microbiology
Shock, Septic / pathology
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / blood supply
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / surgery
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy