Blood Bank Guy Essentials Podcast 077CE: Implementing Pathogen-reduced Platelets with Pat Kopko
Oct 17, 2019
Dr. Pat Kopko, a transfusion medicine physician at UC San Diego and an early adopter of pathogen-reduced platelets, shares insightful lessons from her hospital's 2017 implementation. She discusses the impetus behind adopting this technology, including previous septic transfusion experiences, and the importance of safety culture. Pat explains challenges faced with blood suppliers, operational readiness, and the phased strategy for prioritizing patients. Ethical considerations in patient care and practical choices around supply and matching are highlighted, paving the way for future advancements in transfusion safety.
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Septic Reaction That Sparked Change
- UCSD had a septic transfusion reaction in a post-liver-transplant patient who rapidly developed sepsis after a platelet transfusion.
- The transplant surgeon drew cultures and treated early, likely preventing a worse outcome.
Chicken‑And‑Egg Rollout Problem
- The pathogen-reduction rollout faces a chicken-and-egg problem between hospitals and blood centers.
- Blood centers won't invest without committed buyers and hospitals won't adopt until supply exists.
Fund Safety By Redeploying Savings
- Use existing safety savings to fund new safety initiatives.
- UCSD repurposed transfusion‑reduction savings on red cells to pay for pathogen‑reduced platelets.