Impact of microbial contamination of haematopoietic stem cells on post-transplant outcomes: A retrospective study from tertiary care centre in India.

This study shows that there appears to be minimal impact of culture positive HSC on transplant related outcomes in terms of engraftment kinetics, duration of hospitalisation and day 100 mortality. Discarding of contaminated HSC may not be required, though on development of febrile neutropenia appropriate antibiotics should be administered based on sensitivity pattern of HSC culture. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine the clinical relevance of such contaminations. Emphasis should be laid on better infection control practices to minimise contamination rates.