A septic transfusion reaction can be graded by severity. Jacobs et modified the grading scheme of Sanders et al, which is modeled after the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) for adverse effects of cancer therapy.
Requirements: receipt of a blood product that was bacterially contaminated
Exclusion: bacteremia from other cause
Parameters:
(1) clinical or laboratory evidence of septic reaction
(2) management
Evidence of a Septic Reaction
Management
Grade
none
none
0
transient 1-2°C increase in temperature OR positive blood culture OR leukocytosis
none
1
transient fever, hypotension or other symptoms with resolution within 24 hours
none OR analgesics OR antihistamines
2
fever, hypotension or other findings lasting more than 24 hours or requiring medical management
intravenous fluid resuscitation OR antibiotics OR vasopressor; usually treated in the hospital
3
septic shock OR organ failure
treated in ICU
4
death
NA
5
Grade
Term
0
none
1
mild
2
moderate
3
severe
4
life-threatening
5
fatal
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