Effectiveness of the pre-donation device in blood collection bags to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination

Abstract

Introduction. Safety in collecting blood for transfusions is a critical aspect in transfusion medicine. One of the main concerns is bacterial contamination, which can compromise the quality of blood components and put the health of recipient patients at risk. Despite the implementation of strict skin disinfection procedures prior to puncture, bacteria present on the skin surface can get into the blood bags during the extraction process. Objective. Evaluate the efficacy of pre-collection bags in reducing bacterial contamination in blood donations. Methodology. A study was conducted on extramural collection donors. Skin samples were taken prior to puncture and from the pre-collecting bags. Cultures were performed to detect the presence of bacteria. The blood components were evaluated if the pre-collection bags were positive. Results. Of 75 samples, 93.33% of the skin samples did not present bacterial growth. Staphylococcus hominis was detected in 4 skin samples (5.33%) and in 1 pre-collection bag (1.33%). The blood components of the donations with positive cultures in the pre-collection bags do not show contamination. Conclusion. The use of pre-collection bags demonstrated efficacy in reducing bacterial contamination, minimizing the risks to the blood components obtained from donations. The additional cost involved in this device in the collection bags is justified by the benefit in terms of patient safety and efficiency in the handling of blood products justifying the investment.