Tuesday May 4, 2010


Q: 35 year old male developed severe diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain after blood transfusion. Symptoms progressed very rapidly. CT scan of abdomen showed hepatic and splenic abscesses. Surgery back up is called and infectious diseases (ID) consult is obtained. Meanwhile blood bank confirmed contamination of stored blood. ID service started patient on Ciprofloxain. Which 'bug' they are suspecting?



Answer: Yersinia enterocolitica

Yersinia enterocolitica is a gram-negative bacillus and is a siderophilic (iron-loving) bacteria. Those with hereditary hemochromatosis are more susceptible to infection with Yersinia - and the most common contaminant of stored blood is Y. enterocolitica. Yersinia enterocolitica multiplies rapidly in whole blood or red blood cells stored at 4 to 8° C.

Other sources of infection are contaminated pork, milk, water, and tofu consumption. Infected individuals may shed Y enterocolitica in stools for 90 days after the symptom resolution.