Red blood cell transfusion-induced non-transferrin-bound iron promotes Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in human sera and mortality in catheterized mice

Transfusion of storage-damaged red blood cells (RBCs) increases non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) levels in humans. This can potentially enhance virulence of microorganisms. In this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa replication and biofilm production in vitro correlated with NTBI levels of transfused subjects (R2 = 0·80; P