Rapid risk assessment: Potential contamination of Viaspan® organ perfusion solution

An organ perfusion solution known as Viaspan® has been identified as being potentially contaminated with Bacillus cereus. Viaspan®, which is used to preserve organs prior to transplantation, is distributed to a number of countries around the world.According to ECDC's risk assessment, the likelihood of contamination and risk of infection in recipients or potential recipients of organ transplants preserved in Viaspan® solution produced after July 2011 appears to be low, based on the negative results of microbiological cultures in solution samples and the absence of reported patient cases to date. Nevertheless, vigilance is recommended to mitigate the risk.