Residual risks of bacterial contamination for pathogen-reduced platelet components

Platelet components are commonly transfused to patients for a variety of indications, including patients with low platelet counts or patients with platelet dysfunction who are bleeding or at high risk of bleeding. Although the risk of pathogen contamination of platelet components has declined significantly over the last 40 years, it remains a concern for the patients, for blood banks and for physicians. Pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies have been developed to mitigate this risk. This review focuses on the residual risks of transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections by platelet transfusion after PI. We describe and assess the relationship between the bacterial load and the timing and capacity of reduction of the different PI technologies, as well as the risks that could represent spore-forming microorganisms and the possible introduction of microorganisms after PI.