TY  - JOUR
T1  - A cluster of transfusion-associated babesiosis cases traced to a single asymptomatic donor
AU  - Dobroszycki J, Herwaldt BL, Boctor F, et al
Y1  - 1999/03/10
N1  - 10.1001/jama.281.10.927
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 927
EP  - 930
VL  - 281
IS  - 10
N2  - Context 
                  The risk of acquiring babesiosis by blood transfusion
is largely unknown since in areas where it is endemic it is often an
asymptomatic infection.Objective 
                  To investigate and treat a cluster of blood
transfusion–associated babesiosis cases.Design 
                  Case series and epidemiologic investigation.Setting 
                  Urban inner-city hospital.Patients 
                  Six persons who received Babesia
microti–infected blood components from a donor.Main Outcome Measure 
                  Diagnosis and successful therapy of
babesiosis following transfusion.Results 
                  Six individuals (1 adult, 1 child, and 4 neonates) were
exposed to products from a single blood donation by an asymptomatic
Babesia-infected donor. Three of the 6 exposed patients became
parasitemic. Polymerase chain reaction testing, animal inoculation
studies, and indirect immunofluorescent antibody testing were used to
confirm the presence of Babesia microti in the donor's blood
and to establish the presence of infection in 3 of the 6 recipients.
The 3 infected recipients and 1 additional recipient were treated
without incident.Conclusion 
                  Physicians should consider babesiosis in the
differential diagnosis of a febrile hemolytic disorder after blood
transfusion. Prompt diagnosis is important since babesiosis is
responsive to antibiotic therapy and, untreated, can be a fatal disease
in certain risk groups.
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.281.10.927
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.281.10.927
ER  -