Schmidt, Jean M. (State University of Iowa, Iowa City) and Robert L. Richardson. Serology of Bacterionema matruchotii. J. Bacteriol. 83:584-589. 1962.-Serological relationships of Bacterionema matruchotii were studied by means of the complement-fixation reaction. A common complement-fixing antigen was demonstrated in 37 strains of this organism. Serological relationships to species in the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Actinomyces, and Corynebacterium were shown by means of reciprocal complement-fixation adsorption studies. The close serological relationships among strains of Bacterionema matruchotii, and the broad serological cross-reactions with several other genera, support the establishment of this new genus.

Platelet transfusion reactions were prospectively studied in haematology/oncology patients at five university teaching hospitals over three consecutive summers. The initial summer study provided baseline information on the use of premedications and the rate of platelet transfusion reactions (fever, chills, rigors and hives). Most (73%) platelet recipients were premedicated and 30% (95% CI 28-33%) of transfusions were complicated by reactions. The second study followed implementation of guidelines for premedicating platelet transfusions. Despite a marked reduction in premedication (50%), there was little change in the platelet transfusion reaction rate, 26% (95% CI 24-29%), or the type of reactions. The third study followed implementation of prestorage platelet leukoreduction while maintaining the premedication guidelines. The reaction rate decreased to 19% (95% CI 17-22%). For nonleukoreduced platelets, there was a statistically significant association between the platelet age and reaction rate (P = 0.04). For leukoreduced platelets, there was no statistically significant association between platelet age and reaction rate (P = 0.5). Plasma reduction of nonleukoreduced platelet products also reduced the reaction rate. These prospective studies document a high rate of platelet transfusion reactions in haematology/oncology patients and indicate premedication use can be reduced without increasing the reaction rate. Prestorage leukoreduction and/or plasma reduction of platelet products reduces but does not eliminate febrile nonhemolytic platelet transfusion reactions.

The MERS-TM allowed the recognition and analysis of errors, determination of patterns of errors, and monitoring for changes in frequency after corrective action was implemented. Although no permanent injury resulted from the 819 events, innovative mechanisms must be designed to prevent these errors, instead of relying on faulty informal checks to capture errors after they occur.