Transfusion reaction due to Yersinia enterocolitica and review of other reported cases.

A 26 yr old woman was transfused after her baby was delivered by Caesarian section. During transfusion of the second pack of concentrated erythrocytes, she became acutely febrile. She then became shocked and gravely ill. Yersinia enterocolitica serogroup O:3 was recovered by blood culture from the patient and from the remnant of the bag of blood (but not the segments). The blood donor had suffered no illnesses. The patient received intensive treatment including antibiotics and made a slow recovery. Yersinia enterocolitica contaminated blood is a rare cause of potentially fatal post transfusion septicemia. Prompt recognition of the endotoxemia with cessation of the transfusion of the contaminated blood, although desirable does not seem to alter the outcome. There is no known effective measure to prevent such reactions.