Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT
Septic transfusion reaction
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise septic transfusion reaction — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Symptoms begin during or within hours of transfusion. Speed and severity reflect bacterial load and endotoxin concentration.
- Fever - usually >38.5°C, often with rigors
- Hypotension - key distinguishing feature from non-haemolytic febrile reaction (NHFTR); reflects distributive shock
- Tachycardia - compensatory response
- Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting - visceral manifestation of systemic inflammatory response
- Rigors - intense shivering from cytokine-mediated hypothalamic resetting
- Confusion/reduced GCS - sign of cerebral hypoperfusion; indicates severity
- Progression to septic shock and multi-organ failure if untreated
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