Original article

Ahead-of-Print

ICU-acquired infections and thrombo-embolic events in critically ill patients receiving platelet transfusion: a prospective multicenter observational study

Authors

Key words: platelet transfusion, ICU-acquired infection, thrombosis
Publication Date: 2025-12-17

Abstract

Background - Platelet transfusion is relatively common in patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU). Both ICU-acquired infections and thromboembolic events have been reported after platelet transfusion. We sought to explore risk-factors of these complications.

Materials and methods - We conducted a ancillary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study including critically ill patients who received at least one platelet transfusion in one of the 9 participating ICUs. Patients' characteristics were compared according to the occurrence of post platelet transfusion
ICU-acquired infections (blood stream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia) and thromboembolic events. Factors associated with those outcomes were assessed by univariable and multivariable Fine and Gray regression.

Results - Of the 310 included patients, 64 patients (20.6%) and 14 patients (4.5%) experienced at least one ICU-acquired infection and a thromboembolic event after platelet transfusion, respectively. Fifty patients (78.1%) developed blood stream infection (BSI), 32 (50%) experienced ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) and 18 (28.1%) had both VAP and BSI. Independent risk factors for post platelet transfusion ICU-acquired infection included a platelet count at ICU admission <109/L (protective) (subdistribution Harard Ratio (sHR) 0.52 95% CI [0.31-0.89] p=0.016), multiple platelet transfusion prior to infection occurrence (sHR 2.15 [1.25-3.71] p=0.005) and a Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II>50 (sHR 3.67 [2.16-6.25] p<0.001). While, the unique variable independently associated with thrombotic event occurring after platelet transfusion in adjusted Fine-Gray regression was a SAPS II >50 (sHR 4.27 [1.18-15.39] p=0.027).

Discussion - In this prospective multicenter study, the risk of hospital-acquired infection after platelet transfusion increased in patients receiving multiple platelet transfusions and with patient severity at ICU admission.

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Authors

Florian Reizine - Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France; Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CH de Vannes, Vannes, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9871-636X

Sarah Le Marec - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France

Zoe McQuilten - Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre (ANZIC-RC), Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Anthony Le Meur - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France

Maëlys Consigny - Service de Biostatistiques, CHU de Brest, Brest, France

Florian Berteau - Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CH de Morlaix, Morlaix, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3409-2404

Laetitia Bodenes - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France

Marie Geslain - Département d’Anesthésie-Réanimation, Université de Bretagne occidentale, CHU de Brest, Brest, France

Catherine Le Niger - Unité d’Hémovigilance, CHU de Brest, Brest, France https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4171-7128

Julien Huntzinger - Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CH de Vannes, Vannes, France

Yoann Launey - Service de Réanimation Chirurgicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9105-8862

Jean-Baptiste Thibert - Etablissement Français du Sang Bretagne, Rennes, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8721-8357

Jean Reignier - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hotel-Dieu, Nantes, France

Pierre-Yves Egreteau - Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CH de Morlaix, Morlaix, France https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3382-4805

Jean-Marc Tadié - Maladies Infectieuses et Réanimation Médicale, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France

Olivier Huet - UFR de Médecine de Brest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France

Francois Beloncle - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, CHU d’Angers, Angers, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0590-459X

Stephan Ehrmann - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, INSERM CIC 1415, CRICS-TriggerSEP F-CRIN Research Network, CHU de Tours et Centre d’Études des Pathologies Respiratoires, INSERM U1100, Université de Tours, Tours, France https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6221-4467

Cécile Aubron - Service de Médecine Intensive Réanimation, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Brest, Brest, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7808-3606

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