What should be done to prevent febrile reactions in a patient receiving platelets?

To prevent febrile reactions in a patient receiving platelets, the most effective approach is to use leukocyte-reduced platelets. Febrile reactions are typically associated with the recipient's immune response to white blood cells (leukocytes) present in the transfused blood product. These reactions can result in fever, chills, and discomfort during or after the transfusion, often due to the release of cytokines upon interaction with the recipient's immune system.

Leukocyte reduction, which involves filtering out most of the white blood cells from the platelet preparation, minimizes this immune response. By significantly reducing the number of leukocytes, the likelihood of febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions can be lowered. This practice is particularly important in patients who have previously experienced febrile reactions or have a history of platelet transfusion complications.

In contrast, other approaches mentioned may not be as effective in directly addressing the mechanism of febrile reactions. For example, administering Benadryl prior to transfusion can help with allergic reactions but does not specifically target the febrile response caused by leukocytes. Transfusing irradiated platelets primarily prevents transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease rather than febrile reactions. Similarly, while using