Emerging infections in transfusion medicine

Area of Science:

• Blood Transfusion Safety
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases (TTIDs) risk has significantly decreased in high-income countries over 20 years.
• Successes include preventing HIV and other established transfusion-transmitted viruses from entering the blood supply.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the ongoing public health concern of TTIDs.
• To refocus attention on new and emerging pathogens that pose a threat to blood transfusion safety.
• To review existing and evolving procedures for protecting the blood supply.

Main Methods:

• Review of emerging pathogens and their risks in transfusion recipients.
• Analysis of current and developing procedures to safeguard the blood supply.
• Concentration on a heterogeneous group of infectious agents, including viruses, infectious proteins, bacteria, and parasites.

Main Results:

• While established TTIDs are reduced, emerging pathogens like West Nile virus, infectious proteins (e.g., variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), bacteria, and parasites remain a concern.
• Individual pathogens and their specific risks to transfusion recipients are described.
• Existing and evolving protective procedures are commented upon.

Conclusions:

• TTIDs, particularly from novel and emerging agents, continue to pose a threat to transfusion recipients.
• Ongoing vigilance and evolving strategies are crucial for maintaining blood supply safety.
• Protecting the blood supply requires a comprehensive approach to diverse infectious agents.