Cell salvage in bacterially contaminated surgical fields – A scoping review

Bacterial contamination of salvaged blood occurred frequently, even in procedures not typically classified as contaminated. Decontamination strategies demonstrated variable effectiveness in reducing bacterial contamination. Despite contamination, a potential microbiological link between reinfused salvaged blood and infection was described in only nine patients across five studies. However, substantial heterogeneity in methodologies and a small sample size of most studies makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions about safety. Therefore, we would advise to use cell salvage in known bacterial contaminated areas on a case by case basis, after careful evaluation of the pros and cons, until future research defined safe contamination thresholds, evaluated the effectiveness of decontamination techniques, and assessed clinical outcomes in standardized and controlled settings.