TTD II/III: Bacteria: Have We Missed the Boat?
Program Code: 5018-S
Saturday, October 21, 2006
2:00 PM to 5:30 PM (ET)

MODERATOR
James P. AuBuchon, MD, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Richard Benjamin, MD, PhD, American Red Cross

SPEAKERS
Mark Brecher, MD, University of North Carolina Hospitals
Jaroslav Vostal, MD, PhD
Larry Dumont, PhD, MBA, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Joseph Sweeney, MD, FACP, FRCPath, The Miriam Hospital
Richard Benjamin, MD, PhD, American Red Cross

DESCRIPTION
Bacterial contamination of platelets remains a major clinical problem two years after enforcement of the AABB standard that requires Transfusion Services to employ methods to limit and detect bacteria. Many Transfusion Services continue to utilize sub-optimum, non-FDA licensed detection systems to test whole blood derived platelets. Even when licensed systems are used, there remains a significant residual risk of sepsis. In this setting the FDA has sanctioned the study of extended storage platelets (with an attendant increased risk of sepsis), using an optimized detection system whose efficacy is itself the subject of study. This session will explore the weaknesses of current approaches, enhancements that are underway and the need for additional strategies to ensure the safety of platelet transfusions.