Ramirez-Arcos, Sandra

Senior Development Scientist

Canadian Blood Services


Adjunct Professor

University of Ottawa


Education
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
  • Masters in Microbiology, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
Mailing Address

Canadian Blood Services
1800 Alta Vista Dr.
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 4J5


Phone Number

613-739-2169


Email

sandra.ramirez@blood.ca

Related Links

Reducing Bacterial Contamination in Blood Components


Bacterial contamination of fresh blood components is the most prevalent transfusion-associated infectious risk, and platelet concentrates (PCs) are the blood product most likely to be infected. Dr. Ramirez’ applied research projects further our understanding of contamination of fresh blood components and stem cell products and help develop better methodologies for bacterial detection.


Why is this important?

Dr. Ramirez’ research on detection of bacterial growth in blood and stem cell products contributes to the distribution of safer blood products for Canadian patients.

Dr. Ramirez' team regularly tests the methods used for routine screening of PCs and stem cell components for contamination at Canadian Blood Services and works with industry partners to evaluate new technologies for the detection of bacterial contamination. More recently, her team validated a screening method for bacterial contamination in cord blood units. Dr. Ramirez and her research group have also investigated bacterial contamination of red blood cell (RBC) components, an issue despite their storage at 4 °C. They have shown that multiple exposures of RBC units to room temperature for up to one hour do not adversely affect the safety of RBCs. This study provided evidence to the Canadian Standards Association to change the maximum time limit of uncontrolled temperature exposure from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, a decision that will reduce wastage of RBC units without compromising safety or efficacy of the product. Dr. Ramirez’ group is regularly involved in investigations of adverse reactions due to transfusion of contaminated blood components. Her team has developed and patented a rapid, highly sensitive and specific assay to discriminate Staphylococcus epidermidis from other staphylococcal species in PCs, an important advance as PCs are at particular risk of being contaminated with S. epidermidis, a skin contaminant. Dr. Ramirez’ team is participating in a World Health Organization-endorsed international study to develop a panel of bacterial strains suitable for validation and comparison assessments.

Current research in Dr. Ramirez' lab is focused on:

  1. Developing a method to detect bacteria in cord blood units that contain antibiotics.
  2. Assessing bacterial survival during buffy coat platelet production and storage.
  3. Evaluating the effectiveness of pathogen reduction technologies on biofilm-forming bacteria.

Selected Publications

  1. Kou Y, Pagotto F, Hannach B,Ramirez-Arcos S: Fatal false-negative transfusion infection involving a buffy coat platelet pool contaminated with biofilm-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis: a case report. Transfusion 2015; doi: 10.1111/trf.13154. [Epub ahead of print].
  2. Ramirez-Arcos S, Alport T, Goldman M: Intermittent bacteremia detected in an asymptomatic apheresis platelet donor with repeat positive culture for Escherichia coli: a case report. Transfusion 2015; doi: 10.1111/trf.13218. [Epub ahead of print].
  3. Ramirez-Arcos S, Kou Y, Yang L, Perkins H, Taha M, Halpenny M, Elmoazzen H: Validation of sterility testing of cord blood: Challenges and results. Transfusion2015; 55:1985-1992.
  4. Ramirez-Arcos S, Kou Y, Perkins H: Evaluation of a universal point-of-issue assay for bacterial detection in buffy coat platelet components. Vox Sang 2014; 107:192-195.
  5. Pietersz RNI, Reesink HW, Panzer S, Oknaian S, Kuperman S, Gabriel C, Rapaille A, Lambermont M, Deneys V, Sondag D, Ramírez‐Arcos S, Goldman M, Delage G, Bernier F, Germain M, Vuk T, Georgsen J, Morel P, Naegelen C, Bardiaux L, Cazenave J‐P, Dreier J, Vollmer T, Knabbe C, Seifried E, Hourfar K, Lin CK, Spreafico M, Raffaele L, Berzuini A, Prati D, Satake M, de Korte D, Meer PF, Kerkhoffs JL, Blanco L, Kjeldsen‐Kragh J, Svard‐Nilsson A‐M, McDonald CP, Symonds I, Moule R, Brailsford S, Yomtovian R, Jacobs MR: Bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates. Vox Sang 2014; 106:256-283. (Invited publication).
  6. Ramirez-Arcos S, Perkins H, Kou Y, Mastronardi C, Kumaran D, Taha M, Yi Q, McLaughlin N, Kahwash E, Lin Y, Acker J: Bacterial growth in red blood cell units exposed to uncontrolled temperatures: challenging the 30-minute rule. Vox Sang 2013; 105:100-107 (Highlighted in the American Blood Centers Newsletter in February 2013; Received Vox Sanguinis Best Paper Prize 2013).
  7. Ramirez-Arcos S., Goldman M: Bacterial Contamination in “Practical Transfusion Medicine”. 5th edition, 2015, In press. (Invited publication).
  8. Ramirez-Arcos S, Cameron C: A Method for Detection of Staphylococcus Epidermidis. USPTO No. S8,673,566.
  9. Ramirez-Arcos S: ResearchUnit: Dodging disinfection: biofilm-forming skin bacteria can resist disinfectants. 2013 Blood.ca website

Dynamics of Bacterial Growth and Biofilm Formation in Blood Products


Dr. Ramirez' team has developed extensive expertise around bacteria forming surface-attached aggregates known as biofilms. The formation of such biofilms is associated with increased pathogenicity and might explain instances of missed bacterial detection in blood components.


Why is this important?

Biofilm formation is a serious hurdle for the detection and elimination of bacterial contamination of blood products. Dr. Ramirez’ work informs efforts to prevent contamination from these bacteria and improve their detection, at every step from skin disinfection before donation to testing our final products.

Dr. Ramirez has shown that bacteria form surface-attached communities of cells known as biofilms during platelet storage and that these biofilms may not be detected during screening, as biofilms adhere to the inner surfaces of the platelet bags and/or to platelets, which may result in a decreased number of cells in suspension available for screening and enhanced pathogenicity. Dr. Ramirez’ research seeks to understand factors influencing biofilm formation. Dr. Ramirez' team screened skin flora bacteria isolated from contaminated PCs in Canada for their biofilm-forming ability and surprisingly found that some of these presumable harmless bacteria display a virulent phenotype. Importantly, they have recently shown that these biofilm‐forming skin microflora bacteria are resistant to the bactericidal action of disinfectants used during blood donation. Her group has also shown that anaerobic bacteria cannot replicate during platelet storage, but can survive in the presence of oxygen, likely as a result of the formation of biofilms. Investigation of preventive measures to control biofilm formation in PCs has resulted in the development of a patent showing that polyethylene glycol-modification of the platelet surface results in significant reduction of bacterial biofilm formation. Furthermore, Dr. Ramirez’ team has reported that biofilm formation is reduced in PCs suspended in platelet additive solutions compared to plasma-suspended PCs.

Current research in Dr. Ramirez' lab is focused on:

  1. Determining the contribution of the platelet storage environment and plastic material of platelet containers to bacterial biofilm formation.
  2. Assessing biofilm resistance to synthetic and platelet-derived antimicrobial peptides and natural oils.
  3. Conducting comparative studies of the expression, at the mRNA level, of S. epidermidis genes when grown in media and PCs.

Selected Publications

  1. Ali H, Greco-Stewart VS, Jacobs MR, Yomtovian RA, Rood IG, de Korte D, Ramírez-Arcos SM: Characterization of the growth dynamics and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from contaminated platelet units. J Med Microbiol 2014; 63:884-889.
  2. Taha M, Kalab M, Yi Q, Landry C, Greco‐Stewart V, Brassinga AK, Sifri CD, Ramirez‐Arcos S: Biofilm‐forming skin microflora bacteria are resistant to the bactericidal action of disinfectants used during blood donation. Transfusion 2014; 54:2974-2982.
  3. Kumaran D, Kalab M, Rood IG, de Korte D, Ramirez-Arcos S: Adhesion of anaerobic bacteria to platelet containers Vox Sang 2014; doi: 10.1111/vox.12141.
  4. Hodgson SD, Greco-Stewart V, Jimenez CS, Sifri CD, Brassinga AKC, Ramirez-Arcos S: Enhanced pathogenicity of biofilm-negative Staphylococcus epidermidisisolated from platelet preparations. Transfusion 2014; 54:461-70.
  5. Greco C, Zhang J, Kalab M, Yi Q-L, Ramirez-Arcos S, Gyongyossy-Issa M: Effect of platelet additive solution on bacterial dynamics and their influence on platelet quality in stored platelet concentrates. Transfusion 2010; 50:2344-52. (Highlighted in the Editorial of the November 2010 issue of Transfusion and the AABB SmartBrief News of November 11, 2010).
  6. Ramirez-Arcos S, Maurer E, Scott M: Prevention of bacterial biofilm formation in blood bags by the use of PEGylated blood products. USPTO No.  8,048,620.

Leadership Focus

 

Click to see Leadership Roles

2014 - CurrentMember, Microbial Sampling and Testing, Bioburden subgroup, Organs and Tissues, Canadian Blood Services
2015Current Co-chair, Working Party - Bacteria subgroup; Transfusion Transmitted Infectious Diseases (TTID), International Society for Blood Transfusion
2013 - 2015Member, Working Party - Bacteria subgroup; Transfusion Transmitted Infectious Diseases (TTID), International Society for Blood Transfusion
20142014 Vox Sanguinis Best Paper Prize for the best original article published in Vox Sanguinis in 2013 awarded by the International Society of Blood Transfusion

For general enquiries about research at Canadian Blood Services, please contact us at:

Centre for Innovation
Canadian Blood Services
1800 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 4J5

centreforinnovation@blood.ca