Underreporting of transfusion incidents

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Blood transfusion is a vital therapy with inherent risks, including immediate adverse reactions.
• Ensuring transfusion safety involves meticulous procedures, yet adverse events can still occur.
• Immediate adverse reactions pose a significant risk despite safety protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the occurrence rate of immediate adverse transfusion reactions within 24 hours.
• To compare the actual incidence of reactions with reported cases.
• To assess compliance with transfusion safety regulations.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, descriptive study analyzing blood component transfusions from October 2018 to August 2019.
• Data collection via review of medical records, transfusion request forms, and patient/family interviews.
• Quantitative analysis using descriptive statistics and chi-square test for demographic associations.

Main Results:

• A total of 1042 blood units were transfused in 184 patients.
• Active search identified 17 transfusion reactions, none previously reported, yielding a rate of 16.3/1000 units.
• The reported notification rate was significantly lower at 3.83/1000 units, indicating underreporting.

Conclusions:

• Active surveillance reveals substantial underreporting of adverse transfusion reactions.
• Inadequate adherence to reporting protocols compromises transfusion safety.
• Implementing active search methods is crucial for accurate adverse event detection and improving patient safety.