Evaluation of Bacterial Contamination in Donated Blood for Transfusion Purposes at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital

<b>Background:</b> Bacterial contamination of donated blood has been a major public health problem. It poses grave risks to the recipient. <b>Objective:</b> The objective of this study was to determine bacterial contamination in donated blood for transfusion purposes at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. <b>Methodology:</b> This was a cross-sectional study. Sample collection was performed in BD BACTEC culture bottles and analyzed by BD BACTEC Machine FX40 for the presence of bacteria and thereafter subcultured for the positive vials. Biochemical tests were performed followed by confirmation tests with API-20 to identify bacterial presence. Samples negative for bacteria were not subjected to further analysis, and the results were directly recorded. Quality control procedures were performed using known ATCC microorganisms (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> [<i>S. aureus</i>] ATCC 25923). The data were entered into Excel and analyzed by SPSS Version 25. <b>Results:</b> The general prevalence of bacterial contamination was 21.3% (23/108). The blood group A positive had the highest contamination rate (10.2%), while the prevalence by age was also higher in the 21-30 years age group (24%). The most commonly isolated organisms were <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> (<i>S. epidermidis</i>) (56.5%), <i>S. aureus</i> (39.1%), <i>Bacillus</i> spp. (30.4%), and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) (17.4%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that blood group A positive individuals (OR = 2.5, <i>p</i>=0.02) and the 21-30 years age group (OR = 1.8, <i>p</i>=0.03) were significantly related to contamination at odds. The association of blood group A positive and age 21-30 further augmented this risk (OR = 3.5, <i>p</i>=0.01). <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>S. epidermidis</i>, <i>S. aureus</i>, <i>Bacillus</i> spp. and <i>E. coli</i> were among the isolated and identified bacteria found in donated blood samples among donors at KTRH.