AN IMPROVED BLOOD BAG SYSTEM INCORPORATING QUINOLONE CARBOXYLIC ACID DERIVATIVES

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for introducing anti­ bacterial agents, for example, quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives into blood bag systems for preventing massive bacteria growth in stored blood and blood components. The quinolone carboxylic acid derivative can be added to a collection container before, during or after the collection of blood and blood components. The addition of a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative to blood bag systems allows for increase in storage time for blood and blood components without the threat of massive bacterial contamination.

Description: This invention relates to the storage of blood and blood components. It has among its objects a novel system and method of storing platelets in the presence of quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives as antibacterial agents to prevent massive bacterial contamination. Proliferation of inadvertently introduced bacteria into blood and blood component collection and storage systems is a rare event. Accidental contamination is thought to occur most likely at the time of phlebotomy. But the consequences of bacterial contamination during platelet storage can result in a potentially life threatening condition. Refrigeration of collected blood and blood components and short term storage have been found to minimize the incidence of massive bacterial contamination. Shortening the storage period often results in the disposal of a large number of units of platelets that are not contaminated. This results in a loss of an important and often critical supply of platelets. In addition platelets stored as platelet-rich plasma and platelet concentrates (PC) possess a better in vivo half-life when prepared and stored at ambient temperature. With the introduction of blood bag system which include film that allow for greater gas transmissibility, platelets have been stored for periods of up to 7 days. When the storage period was increased to 7 days the incidence of contamination of stored platelets increased prompting the FDA to decrease platelet storate from up to 7 days to up to 5 days. See Figure 1 showing an increase in the incidence of contamination since the end of 1984. US Patent No. 4,014,329 describes a blood bag system for storage of whole blood for autotransfusion purposes, which comprises a sterile part for the addition of antibiotics or other solutions for immediate infusion. The invention described herein is a method and system for preventing massive bacterial contamination in closed blood bag system for storage of platelets by introducing a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative as an antibacterial agent into the collection and storage containers. In the present method and systems quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives can be introduced into the blood bag system before, during or shortly after collection. The primary advantage of the present invention is preventing massive bacterial contamination when platelets are stored at room temperature or inadvertently not timely refrigerated. Another advantage of the invention is to increase the storage time of platelets at ambient temperature to greater than 7 days. This would provide a safer platelet transfusion product by preventing massive bacterial growth in platelets that are accidently contaminated. Figure 1 is a graph of the number of septic reactions/year from platelet infusions. Figure 2 is a graph of the distribution of minimum inhibitory concentrations for ciprofloxacin. Figure 3 is a series of graphs of ciprofloxacin platelet data compared with historical data. In a preferred embodiment the quinolone carboxylic derivative is a fluoro-quinolone which is a subset of a general family of quinolones. Examples of quinolones and their manufacturer include ciprofloxacin by Miles, ofloxacin by Hoechst, norfloxacin by Merck, Sharpe and Dohme, and enoxacin by Warner-Lambert. Quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, act by inhibiting the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase. Bacterial DNA is a double stranded circle in which the two strands are wrapped around each other in a helical fashion. DNA replication is initiated at one point on the circle. The strands are first pulled apart at the initiation point (to allow the sequence to be read). This causes the number of twists per unit length to increase on both sides of the initiation point. DNA gyrase decreases the twist density and thus allows the continual unravelling of the entire double stranded circle. Without DNA gyrase, DNA replication is not possible, and therefore bacterial replication cannot occur. Ciprofloxacin also has other less understood actions that will kill bacteria when added at levels higher than the amount needed to inhibit bacterial replication. In a preferred form of the invention, the ciprofloxacin is present in a final concentration of about 1 µg/ml to about 20 µg/ml. Ciprofloxacin is a broad spectrum antibacterial agent, affecting both gram negative and gram positive bacteria. It is effective at low concentrations e.g. 5 µg/ml. It is autoclavable and stable in plasma at room temperature for 7 days. It is not toxic to humans by the intravenous (IV) route at levels (100-200 mg) that are 50 to 100 times the dose that would be received in a transfusion of eight 50 ml PC each containing 5 µg/ml ciprofloxacin. Experiments to show the effectiveness of Ciprofloxacin. There are a number of published reports showing the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin e.g. Wolfson JS and Hooper DC. The Fluoro-quinolones: Structures, Mechanisms of action and Resistance, and Spectra of Activity in vitro . Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 28 : 581-6 (1985). A number of experiments to confirm ciprofloxacin's effectiveness have been performed. Nineteen different organisms were isolated from skin at the phlebotomy site from 11 individuals representing multiple nationalities and races (Chinese, black, white, Korean). Sterile Q-tips were dipped in sterile saline and rubbed vigorously at the phlebotomy site. The entire surface of an agar plate containing an all purpose growth medium (5% sheep blood trypticase soy agar) was rubbed with the Q-tips. The plates were incubated for 2 days at 37°C. One to 3 different colony types were found per plate. Representatives of each colony type were subcultured at 22°C to select for organisms that would grow at the temperature in which platelets would be stored. Further culturing was done to yield pure strains. The strains were characterized by morphology, gram stains, growth on mannitol salt agar, ability to grow anaerobically on glucose, and the coagulase test. All strains were gram positive cocci and appeared singly or in clusters. Four were identified as Micrococcus by their inability to grow anaerobically on glucose. Fourteen strains were identified as staphylococci by their ability to show good growth anaerobically on glucose. One strain remained unidentified at the group level by showing only weak growth on glucose anaerobically. Three strains were identified tentatively as Staphylococcus aureus by a coagulase positive result, although the results were tentative and conflicted with the results of growth on a mannitol salt medium. For each of the 19 human strains the minimum concentration of ciprofloxacin to completely inhibit growth (MIC in µg/ml) was determined. Also included were S . aureus ATCC 14514, and S . epidermidis QA. The MIC tests were performed on agar plates containing Mueller-Hinton medium. A series of plates were made containing ciprofloxacin in the medium. The range of concentration varied 2 fold from 10 µg/ml to .038 µg/ml. On each plate in a known spot (usually 9 to 10 strains per plate), 50,000 colony forming units (CFU) in 5 µl were added. The experiment was run in duplicate. The plates were incubated overnight at 37°C. The MIC is defined as the concentration of ciprofloxacin in which no growth is observed. The results for the 19 human isolates and 2 reference strains of gram positive cocci are shown in Table 1 and in Figure 2. The MICs for a number of other gram positive and gram negative organisms has been determined. These bacteria included examples of the organisms implicated in cases of bacterial sepsis (p. I 157 of the transcript of the Blood Product Advisory Committee meeting held 2/13/86). MIC µg/ml Ciprofloxacin 11 Staphylococcus (coagulase negative) 0.157-0.625 S . epidermidis (QA) 2.5 3 S . aureus 0.625 S . aureus ATCC14504 1.25 4 Micrococcus 1.25-5.0 1 gram positive coccus 1.25 mean 0.94 µg/ml Reference Strains of Gram Negative Bacilli Species Strain MIC (µg/ml) Ciprofloxacin Pseudomonas aeruginosa FDG 5 ATCC27316 0.625 Salmonella typhimurium SL1027 Serratia marcescens 435 0.313 436 Klebsiella pneumoniae 437 0.156 ATCC8047 ATCC10031 2CD Serratia marcescens 438 0.078 Reference Strains of Gram Positive Cocci Species Strain MIC (µg/ml) Ciprofloxacin Enterococcus 101 2.5 Enterococcus 102 1.25 103 104 105 106 107 S epidermidis 1.25 (Q.A. strain) Platelet Storage Studies with Ciprofloxacin It has been established that PC inoculated with small numbers of S . epidermidis will contain massive numbers of bacteria in a few days. In our own experiments we inoculated PC stored for 1 day with 5 cfu (n=8) or 20 cfu (n=8) of S . epidermidis (Q.A. strain). Massive growth (>10⁷ CFU/ml) was seen within 3 to 4 days after inoculation (7 of 8 PC and 4 of 8 PC, respectively). To test the effectiveness of ciprofloxacinin stored platelet concentrates the following pair study was done. Two units of blood were drawn from ABO compatible donors. Platelet-enriched plasma (PRP) was prepared by centrifugation at 2900 RPM for 126 seconds. A PRP pool was made, sampled for in vitro platelet assays, and then split evenly into two CLX-7 satellite bags. Platelet concentrates were made by centrifugation at 3700 RPM for 6 min in an IEC PR6000 floor model centrifuge. All but 50-55 ml of plasma was removed from the platelet pellet. After a 90 minute rest period the bags were placed on a horizontal agitator (70 cycles/min). After 30 minutes on the shaker, when the platelets were nearly all resuspended, each member of the pair received 10,000 cfu of S . epidermidis (n=2) or 10,000 cfu of S . aureus ATCC 14504 (n=2). These two species are the ones most often implicated in contaminated PC. One member of the pair received enough (250 µg/ml) ciprofloxacin to make the final concentration 5 µg/ml. The bags were returned to the shaker and stored for 7 days at 22°C. The PRP and PC at days 1, 2, 5 and 7 were sampled for the following in vitro assays: pH, PO₂, the platelet concentration (count), recovery from hypotonic stress, and the sizing parameters, geometric standard deviation and the mean volume. Note that the size of the inoculum was 500 to 10,000 times greater than the inoculum needed to get massive bacterial growth in most PC. As to be expected there was massive growth by day 2 in those units not receiving ciprofloxacin (1.4 to 8.0x10⁷ CFU/ml). In the 4 PC receiving 5 µg/ml ciprofloxacin, no viable bacteria were recovered during storage (0 CFU/ml on days 1, 2, 5 and 7). The results of the in vitro assays for the PC receiving ciprofloxacin were averaged and compared with historical data (n=21) in CLX-7 (see Figure 3). The ciprofloxacin platelet data was comparable to historical data. The ciprofloxacin PO₂ is lower than historical because the platelet concentration (count) was unusually high. We have seen counts as low as 600,000/µl to as high as 2,600,000/µl. From other studies we have found that high PO₂ affects adversely the hypotonic stress assay which is consistent with the results found here. Under blood banking conditions, addition of ciprofloxacin to PC at low concentrations killed huge inocula of the two common skin organisms ( S . aureus and S epidermidis ) most often implicated in contaminated PC. In vitro platelet parameters were not affected by the presence of ciprofloxacin. Numerous existing blood bag systems could be adapted to include the presence or addition of a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative such as ciprofloxacin. For example U.S. Patent 4,484,920 shows a container for mixing a liquid and a solid initially placed in separate compartments. The blood or blood component would be the liquid, the quinolone carboxylic acid derivative could be in a separate compartment as either a solid, such as a powder or pellet formulation, or as a liquid. Other systems may include an anticoagulant in one or more of the blood bags of the blood bag system. One method of introducing an appropriate amount of a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is to include the quinolone in a satellite bag which is attached to at least one of the main blood bags. The quinolone could be in liquid, power or pill formulation. One embodiment would be to provide an appropriate amount of quinolone, for example 250 µg of ciprofloxacin in a pill formulation. The pill formulation could be introduced into the blood bag system by activating an opening and allowing the quinolone to be admixed with the platelets. The quinolone could be dissolved or flushed from the satellite pouch by introducing the platelets into the satellite bag and then allowing the platelets to be returned to the main blood bag. Alternatively, the appropriate amount of quinolone or other antibacterial agent would be in a liquid formulation. The introduction of an antibacterial agent into a platelet storage system serves to destroy or supress the growth or reproduction of bacteria. Quinolone carboxylic acid derivatives have provided the above function without negatively affecting the viability of the blood or blood components. Other yet to be developed quinolones are deemed to be within the scope of this invention, as are other antibacterial agents that provide the desired function. Given the above disclosure, it is thought variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the above example should be construed as illustrative and the scope of the invention should be limited only be the following claims.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, NL, SE A closed blood bag system for storage of platelets comprising the presence of a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative in an amount sufficient to inhibit bacterial growth during storage. The closed blood bag system of claim 1 wherein said quinolone is added to the closed blood bag system before the collection of the platelets. The closed blood bag system of claim 1 wherein said quinolone is added to said blood bag system after the collection of the platelets. The closed blood bag system of claim 1 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and enoxacin. The closed blood bag system of claim 4 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is ciprofloxacin. The closed blood bag system of claim 5 wherein ciprofloxacin is present in a final concentration of about 1 µg/ml to about 20 µg/ml. The closed blood bag system of claim 6 wherein the final concentrate of ciprofloxacin is about 5 µg/ml. The closed blood bag system of claim 1 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is placed in a separate but potentially communicating satellite compartment preattached to said closed blood bag system. The closed blood bag system of claim 8 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is in a liquid formulation. The closed blood bag system of claim 8 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is in a dry formulation. The closed blood bag system of claim 8 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and enoxacin. The closed blood bag system of claim 11 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is provided in a formulation selected from the group consisting of liquid and dry and mixtures thereof. A closed blood bag system for storage of platelets containing an anticoagulant and a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative. The closed blood bag system of claim 13 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and enoxacin. A method for reducing the likelihood of bacterial contamination in stored platelets comprising the steps of: (a) withdrawing blood from a donor; (b) collecting platelets into a collection container; (c) storing the platelets; and (d) wherein the improvement is characterized by admixing the platelets with a sufficient amount of a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative to inhibit the growth of gram negative bacteria and gram positive bacteria during storage step (c). Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR A method for reducing the likelihood of bacterial contamination in stored platelets comprising the steps of: (a) withdrawing blood from a donor; (b) collecting platelets into a collection container; (c) storing the platelets; and (d) wherein the improvement is characterized by admixing the platelets with a sufficient amount of a quinolone carboxylic acid derivative to inhibit the growth of gram negative bacteria and gram positive bacteria during storage step (c). A method according to claim 1 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid is added to the closed blood bag system before the collection of the platelets. A method according to claim 1 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid is added to the closed blood bag system after the collection of the platelets. A method according to claims 1 - 3 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin and enoxacin. A method according to claims 1 - 4 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid is ciprofloxacin. A method according to claim 5 wherein the final concentrate of ciprofloxacin is about 5 µg/ml. A method according to claim 1 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is placed in a separate but potentially communicating satellite compartment preattached to said closed blood bag system. A method according to claim 7 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is in a liquid formulation. A method according to claim 7 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is in a dry formulation. A method according to claim 9 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and enoxacin. A method according to claim 10 wherein said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative is provided in a formulation selected from the group consisting of liquid and dry and mixtures thereof. A method according to claims 1 to 11 wherein the collection container is containing in addition to said quinolone carboxylic acid derivative an anticoagulant.

Inventors: CHAMPION, ALEXANDER B., COLLINS, MICHAEL S.
Applicants: MILES INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61L2
IPC codes: A61L2, A01N1, A61J1, A01N43