Determinants of blood transfusion-transmitted infections in donated blood

Blood transfusions which save lives through their essential function bring infection risks to users especially in areas with limited medical resources.

The research study aimed to determine the main factors that cause blood transfusion-transmitted infections in donated blood.

This was a cross-sectional study among voluntary blood donors. Blood tests were conducted on samples from the study to detect common transfusion-transmitted infections which included Hepatitis B (HBV) Hepatitis C (HCV) HIV Syphilis and Malaria. Data on demographic characteristics and health history information was collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify the risk factors for association with TTI.

The study discovered that TTIs exist in low levels because they found Hepatitis B in 1.85% of samples and Malaria in 2.78% of samples. The study identified three main risk factors which led to transfusion infections through previous surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1), multiple blood donations (OR = 1.8), and unscreened donor history (OR = 3.4). The research identified three main factors which determine blood transfusion infection risk.

The implementation of better donor screening processes together with educational programs and infection control strategies will effectively decrease the risk associated with transfusions.

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