Biomaterial Database

Current risk for transfusion transmitted infections. 2007

Roger Y Dodd

Research and Development, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland 20855, USA. dodd@usa.redcross.org

OBJECTIVE Blood safety is a topic of continuing concern, and much effort is expended on measures to decrease the risk for transmission of infectious agents via transfusion. At the same time, emerging infections may threaten this safety. A periodic review of risk is therefore appropriate. RESULTS The risk for major transfusion transmissible infections continues to decline as a result of continually strengthening interventions and because of more general improvements in public health. More attention is being paid to emerging infections, and recently donor testing has been implemented for West Nile virus and Trypanosoma cruzi. Within the period covered by this review, the transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by transfusion has been confirmed. Our understanding of other agents is improving. CONCLUSIONS The estimated risk for transfusion transmitted hepatitis viruses and retroviruses is now vanishingly small, but clinicians should be alert to the possibility of infection with emerging infectious agents, because preventive measures may not be available in all cases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007239	Infections	Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases.	Infection,Infection and Infestation,Infections and Infestations,Infestation and Infection,Infestations and Infections
D007562	Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome	A rare transmissible encephalopathy most prevalent between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Affected individuals may present with sleep disturbances, personality changes, ATAXIA; APHASIA, visual loss, weakness, muscle atrophy, MYOCLONUS, progressive dementia, and death within one year of disease onset. A familial form exhibiting autosomal dominant inheritance and a new variant CJD (potentially associated with ENCEPHALOPATHY, BOVINE SPONGIFORM) have been described. Pathological features include prominent cerebellar and cerebral cortical spongiform degeneration and the presence of PRIONS. (From N Engl J Med, 1998 Dec 31;339(27))	New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathy, Subacute,CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease),Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Familial,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, New Variant,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Variant,Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,Jakob-Creutzfeldt Disease,Jakob-Creutzfeldt Syndrome,V-CJD (Variant-Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease),Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,CJD (Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease),Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Familial,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, New Variant,Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, Variant,Creutzfeldt Jakob Syndrome,Creutzfeldt-Jakob Diseases, Familial,Disease, Creutzfeldt Jacob,Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Disease, Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Disease, Jakob-Creutzfeldt,Encephalopathies, Subacute Spongiform,Encephalopathy, Subacute Spongiform,Familial Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob Diseases,Jacob Disease, Creutzfeldt,Jakob Creutzfeldt Disease,Jakob Creutzfeldt Syndrome,New Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease,Spongiform Encephalopathies, Subacute,Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathies,Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathy,Syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob,Syndrome, Jakob-Creutzfeldt,V CJD (Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease),Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease
D008288	Malaria	A protozoan disease caused in humans by four species of the PLASMODIUM genus: PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM; PLASMODIUM VIVAX; PLASMODIUM OVALE; and PLASMODIUM MALARIAE; and transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the genus ANOPHELES. Malaria is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Oceania, and certain Caribbean islands. It is characterized by extreme exhaustion associated with paroxysms of high FEVER; SWEATING; shaking CHILLS; and ANEMIA. Malaria in ANIMALS is caused by other species of plasmodia.	Marsh Fever,Plasmodium Infections,Remittent Fever,Infections, Plasmodium,Paludism,Fever, Marsh,Fever, Remittent,Infection, Plasmodium,Plasmodium Infection
D001782	Blood Donors	Individuals supplying blood or blood components for transfer to histocompatible recipients.	Blood Donor,Donor, Blood,Donors, Blood
D001792	Blood Platelets	Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation.	Platelets,Thrombocytes,Blood Platelet,Platelet,Platelet, Blood,Platelets, Blood,Thrombocyte
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001404	Babesiosis	A group of tick-borne diseases of mammals including ZOONOSES in humans. They are caused by protozoa of the genus BABESIA, which parasitize erythrocytes, producing hemolysis. In the U.S., the organism's natural host is mice and transmission is by the deer tick IXODES SCAPULARIS.	Babesiasis,Piroplasmosis,Babesia Infection,Babesia Parasite Infection,Human Babesiosis,Babesia Infections,Babesia Parasite Infections,Babesiases,Babesioses,Babesioses, Human,Babesiosis, Human,Human Babesioses,Infection, Babesia,Infection, Babesia Parasite,Infections, Babesia,Infections, Babesia Parasite,Piroplasmoses
D014355	Chagas Disease	Infection with the protozoan parasite TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI, a form of TRYPANOSOMIASIS endemic in Central and South America. It is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered the parasite. Infection by the parasite (positive serologic result only) is distinguished from the clinical manifestations that develop years later, such as destruction of PARASYMPATHETIC GANGLIA; CHAGAS CARDIOMYOPATHY; and dysfunction of the ESOPHAGUS or COLON.	Trypanosomiasis, South American,American Trypanosomiasis,Chagas' Disease,Trypanosoma cruzi Infection,Infection, Trypanosoma cruzi,Infections, Trypanosoma cruzi,South American Trypanosomiasis,Trypanosoma cruzi Infections,Trypanosomiasis, American
D014901	West Nile Fever	A mosquito-borne viral illness caused by the WEST NILE VIRUS, a FLAVIVIRUS and endemic to regions of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Common clinical features include HEADACHE; FEVER; maculopapular rash; gastrointestinal symptoms; and lymphadenopathy. MENINGITIS; ENCEPHALITIS; and MYELITIS may also occur. The disease may occasionally be fatal or leave survivors with residual neurologic deficits. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, p13; Lancet 1998 Sep 5;352(9130):767-71)	Kunjin virus Infection,Encephalitis, West Nile Fever,WNV Infection,West Nile Fever Encephalitis,West Nile Fever Meningitis,West Nile Fever Meningoencephalitis,West Nile Fever Myelitis,West Nile Virus Infection,Infection, Kunjin virus,Infection, WNV,Kunjin virus Infections,WNV Infections