Infections Transmitted through Musculoskeletal-Tissue Allografts

The 2003 Institute of Medicine report Microbial Threats to Health: Emergence, Detection, and Response lists “advances in medical technologies, such as blood transfusions and organ transplants,” as one reason for “new or enhanced microbial threats.” Musculoskeletal allografts represent a form of technology that poses a risk of transmission of infection, and their use is increasing. In 2002, approximately 1 million such allografts were distributed in the United States. Unlike solid-organ allografts, most musculoskeletal allografts are used for life-enhancing rather than life-saving procedures, and as the report by Kainer et al. in this issue of the Journal (pages 2564–2571) demonstrates, their . . .