[Transmissible diseases through the intermediary of transfusions]

Blood transfusions may lead to immunologic but also infectious problems. If bacterial pathogens are rarely involved, blood pathogens - especially malaria - and viruses are dominant. Non-a non-b hepatitis is the most frequently encountered viral infection, with a risk of 1% for each blood unit. Screening of SGPT and anti Hbc antibodies should diminish the transmission risk by 30-40%. Since August 1985, HIV antibody screening of blood donors has dramatically reduced the risk of blood transmission; however, patients Ag HIV+/Ac HIV (first weeks of infection, ...) imply that severe voluntary exclusion procedures are maintained for the donors; similar measures are also valid for malaria prevention.