Clerical check was correct. The direct antiglobulin test was negative and no plasma hemoglobin or hemoglobinuria were detected in either the pre-reaction or post-reaction specimen.
Age of platelets: 3-4 days
Microbiology:
At 9:00am the next day that the platelet culture bottles turned positive, gram stain revealed gram positive cocci in clusters growing in both the aerobic and anaerobic bottles. The organism was later identified as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (low and high power images), susceptible to all drugs tested.
BLOOD BANK MODE OF ACTION:
The responsible clinician was notified immediately. The patient remained stable. Recommendation to continue the Vancomycin was made. Her temperature slowly returned to baseline the next day.
Additionally, the blood center was notified so as to quarantine any red cell or plasma product associated with the 6 pool of platelets. All related components were recovered and cultured. One corresponding red cell product grew the same organism ( coagulase negative Staphylococcus) with the same susceptibility to antibiotics tested and therefore the contamination could be traced to one donor/donation event.
