Platelets transfusion in Greece: Where, when, why? A national survey

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Hematology
• Clinical Operations

Background:

• Platelet transfusion is a critical clinical tool, necessitating careful supply management.
• Ensuring an adequate and efficient supply of platelet concentrates (PCs) is vital for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization and wastage of platelet concentrates (PCs) nationwide in Greece.
• To gather data for developing evidence-based strategies to optimize PC use and minimize waste.

Main Methods:

• A national survey conducted in May-June 2015 across 21 Greek hospitals.
• Evaluation of random-donor platelets (RDPs) and single-donor apheresis platelets (SDPs) usage.
• Analysis of transfusion indications, patient departments, PC age, and wastage rates.

Main Results:

• Over 13,000 PCs were transfused, with higher average units per episode for RDPs (4.84) than SDPs (1.12).
• Internal medicine and hematology departments accounted for most transfusions, often given prophylactically for acute leukemia.
• Wastage rates were significantly higher for RDPs (16.75%) compared to SDPs (2.70%), primarily due to expiration.

Conclusions:

• This is the first national survey on platelet transfusion practices in Greece.
• Training for internal medicine and hematology staff on transfusion guidelines is recommended.
• Centralized inventory management and extending PC shelf-life are suggested to reduce platelet wastage.