Contributing Factors and Impact of Microbial Contamination in Human Islet Isolation and Transplantation.
Cell Isolation and Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals and Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: C237
Keywords: Bacterial infection
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session C: Pancreas and Islet (Auto and Allo) Transplantation
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Monday, May 1, 2017
Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Hall D1
Background
The microbiological safety of islet preparations is of paramount importance. Preservation medium contamination is frequent and its impact on islet yield and function remains unclear.
Methods
All microbiological samples collected during islet isolations from 2006 to 2016 were analyzed and compared to isolation and transplantation outcomes.
Results
463 donor pancreases were processed, with microorganism contamination of the preservation medium in 64.1% (297/463). 475 different microorganisms were identified; most frequent microorganisms were Staphylococcus species (261/475, 54.9%), Streptococcus species (33/475, 6.9%) and Candida species (25/475, 5.3%). Microbial presence was associated with lower IEQ numbers, longer warm/cold ischemia times, lower islet yield, lower purity and lower stimulation index. Six percent of the 204 preparations accepted for transplantation showed microbial presence after isolation; 9 out of 12 were contaminated with Candida species; six patients were transplanted with a positive sample discovered after the infusion. Insulin-independence and function were not affected by early (preservation medium) or late (culture medium) contamination. From 2012, we implemented an additional sampling one day after isolation that allowed to reduce by half the number of patients incidentally transplanted with a contaminated preparation.
Conclusion
Pancreas preservation fluid microbial contamination is associated with lower islet yield and lower in vitro function but not with changes in graft survival and function. Testing of the culture medium one day after isolation allows to strongly reduce the risk of incidental contamination.
CITATION INFORMATION: Meier R, Andrey D, Niclauss N, Sun P, van Delden C, Bedat B, Demuylder-Mischler S, Borot S, Benhamou P.-Y, Wojtusciszyn A, Pernin N, Muller Y, Bosco D, Berney T. Contributing Factors and Impact of Microbial Contamination in Human Islet Isolation and Transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Meier R, Andrey D, Niclauss N, Sun P, Delden Cvan, Bedat B, Demuylder-Mischler S, Borot S, Benhamou P-Y, Wojtusciszyn A, Pernin N, Muller Y, Bosco D, Berney T. Contributing Factors and Impact of Microbial Contamination in Human Islet Isolation and Transplantation. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/contributing-factors-and-impact-of-microbial-contamination-in-human-islet-isolation-and-transplantation/. Accessed May 11, 2025.« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress