Conditions and mechanisms of microbial contamination of donor organs and tissues

Abstract

This study examines the conditions and mechanisms of microbial contamination of donor organs and tissues, which is a critical issue in the field of transplantology. The data collected were obtained as a result of microbiological control of central venous catheters and solutions used for preserving pulmonary artery allografts. When culturing sections of the central venous catheter, positive results were obtained in 5 out of 51 cases (9,8%), all of which were K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii. When was examining the preservation solution, positive results were obtained in 11 of 51 samples (21,5%), with the spectrum of microflora including K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, E. faecalis, S. haemolyticus, and combinations thereof. It was found that microbial contamination of donor materials can occur at various stages of conditioning, including the donor preparation stage. The results show two main mechanisms of infection: internal, associated with the transfer of bacteria from the internal environment of the donor's body, and external, resulting from contamination during organ removal. The study highlights the need for further work to gain a deeper understanding of the pathways of infection and to develop effective methods for preventing microbial contamination in transplants.