Adjunctive treatment of clinically severe babesiosis with red blood cell exchange: a case series of nineteen patients

BACKGROUND Infection with the protozoan parasite Babesia , the causative agent of babesiosis, can result in asymptomatic to life‐threatening illness. Severe cases of babesiosis are characterized by high levels of parasitemia (>4%‐10%) and commonly treated with adjunctive red blood cell exchange (RCE) in addition to antimicrobial therapy. The efficacy of RCE in this context is unknown. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Blood bank records were examined...