Get Tested Before Getting a Blood Transfusion
Getting a Blood Transfusion is very necessary when you are suffering from a serious health problem. There are several types of infections that can affect your health and cause complications when you don’t get a blood transfusion. Getting a blood transfusion can help you recover faster and prevent complications. However, it is important to get tested before you decide to receive a blood transfusion.
History
Despite the fact that blood transfusion is still considered to be the oldest form of medical treatment, there are many advancements in the field. This has led to the re-emergence of transfusion as a viable method of medical care.
Blood transfusion has a rich history dating back to the 17th century. It was first performed in 1628 by English physician William Harvey. His discovery of circulation helped improve the method of blood transfusion. In the early days of blood transfusion, the practice was plagued with adverse reactions and fatalities.
In the 19th century, Dr. Karl Landsteiner discovered three main human blood groups. He also identified proteins in red cells. This discovery helped facilitate the first human-to-human transfusion.
The discovery of iso-agglutinins led to the revival of blood transfusion. A few years later, the FDA mandated blood screening for measles, syphilis, and malaria. This resulted in a decrease in cases of Hepatitis B contamination.
Blood transfusions in Africa increased dramatically from the 1960s to the 1970s. This was attributed to the development of structural adjustment programs, the introduction of anticoagulants, and the development of blood banks.
Karl Landsteiner’s discovery of the blood groups A, B, and O also helped improve the safety of transfusions. He also identified the Rh blood group system, which was the cause of many transfusion reactions.
Another development that led to the re-emergence of blood transfusion was the invention of plasmapheresis. This technique allows blood to be stored for longer periods of time. Another development involved the introduction of anticoagulants, which prevented blood from clotting.
Testing for infections
Detecting infection after a blood transfusion is important to the safety of the blood supply. While many pathogens are now known to be transmitted to blood donors, some infections are still unknown.
Recent advances in pathogen-reduction technologies have enabled blood transfusion services to be able to respond to emerging infectious threats. These technologies have also facilitated the detection of infections in the blood supply earlier.
One example of an infectious agent that can be transmitted to transfused blood is Babesia microti. This parasite is a serious asymptomatic infection that can cause long-term sequelae. It is known to be present in approximately one in 5,000 platelet units. A number of cases of Babesia-transmitted infections have been documented in the United States.
The FDA has defined Transfusion-Transmitted Infections (TTIs) as pathogens that are transmitted through the blood supply. TTIs are defined in title 21, parts 610 and 630 of the Code of Federal Regulations. TTIs are divided into three categories: asymptomatic viremia, delayed hemolytic reaction, and acute immune hemolytic reaction. Each TTI has a window period during which an infection can be detected.
One of the first TTIs tested by the FDA was Treponema pallidum. This is a pathogen that causes syphilis. Currently, all blood donations are screened for Treponemal pallidum. Although the last documented case of transfusion-transmitted syphilis occurred over 50 years ago, it remains a concern for the United States’ blood supply.
Inefficacy
Despite a century of study, there is still a lot of debate about the efficacy of blood transfusion in myocardial infarction. While there is some evidence that blood transfusion does reduce the risk of mortality, severe bleeding remains a tricky medical condition to manage. Similarly, there is much less consensus on how to go about transfusing a patient in the first place.
One of the most interesting facets of blood transfusion is the immune response. In fact, the most commonly encountered infectious complication of blood products is sepsis. For this reason, it is not surprising that a study evaluating the efficacy of blood transfusion in acute myocardial infarction should include patients with a high-risk profile. The authors decided to test the efficacy of a transfusion protocol using a homologous leukoreduced packed red blood cell. The ensuing study consisted of 668 patients who were randomized to the liberal or restrictive transfusion protocol. The researchers collected and evaluated follow-up data. They were able to tease out a few tidbits, the most interesting of which was the relative effectiveness of a transfusion in an acute myocardial infarction setting.
The aforementioned study is the largest prospective randomized study to date to test the efficacy of a single homologous leukoreduced blood cell. The study included patients with a hemoglobin level above or below 10 g/dL. The researchers found that the efficacy of a transfusion was unchanged in those with hemoglobin levels above 10 g/dL, but the likelihood of receiving a transfusion was greatly reduced.
Complications
Despite the fact that the risk of blood transfusion complications has decreased, it is still possible to experience minor to severe problems after receiving blood. These problems are caused by a variety of factors. For instance, an individual may be allergic to the blood, or the blood may have been contaminated with a bacterium. Symptoms may include fever, fever-like aches, and oozing from wounds.
Acute immune hemolytic reactions occur when the patient’s immune system attacks the transfused red cells. The patient may experience pain and fever, as well as a decrease in renal function.
In the United States, testing for human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 antibodies is done on donated blood. Other tests include testing for hepatitis C virus antibodies and testing for antibodies to the human T-lymphotropic virus. Symptoms may include fever, chills, chest pain, and abdominal pain.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury is the leading cause of death from transfusion. This type of reaction occurs in about one-third of all transfusions. It may occur during or immediately after transfusion. It may also occur days or months after transfusion.
Infections are also a source of significant morbidity after transfusion. Patients may present with fever, oozing from wounds, or a prominent nonproductive cough. Patients may also develop the acute onset of hypertension. Surgical bleeding may also be a complication after transfusion.
Noninfectious complications are also a major source of morbidity after transfusion. The majority of deaths in the United States are attributed to noninfectious complications. In fact, the United States has one of the most comprehensive surveillance programs for transfusion-related complications.
Hepatitis C
Until the early 1990s, hepatitis C was commonly spread through blood transfusions. Many people were given infected blood in medical emergencies, and others were given it as a routine treatment for bleeding disorders.
In the UK, thousands of people received contaminated blood in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Among them, hundreds of people had HIV and hundreds more had hepatitis C.
Fortunately, the number of people who became infected from blood transfusions has significantly decreased. But in the United States, hepatitis C remains an epidemic, with up to four million people unaware that they are infected.
Although screening is in place for blood transfusion recipients, people who received blood for transfusions before 1991 are at increased risk for hepatitis C virus infection. The risk depends on how prevalent the infection is and how many transfusions the person receives.
The risks are highest for people who have sex with men and those who inject drugs. Other groups are also at increased risk, including nurses and laboratory technicians.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of infected people were born between 1945 and 1965. Although they may have been unaware of high-risk behaviors, the infection can eventually lead to liver disease.
People who receive blood for transfusions have a residual risk for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The World Health Organization estimates that around four out of five blood donations in developing countries are not screened for these viruses.
Hepatitis B, syphilis, Chagas disease, cytomegalovirus infections, and Bab
Despite the high prevalence of Chagas disease in US pregnant women, it is rare for articles in obstetrics journals to mention it. This is likely due to the lack of obstetric screening for the disease.
Treatment is often effective for newborns who are exposed to Chagas in utero. However, treatment is less effective for adults who are chronically infected. The parasite may be reactivated during the chronic phase of the infection. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, swelling, and enlarged lymph glands may appear.
There are an estimated 30,000-45,000 people in the US who are at risk for Chagas-related cardiomyopathy. This is caused by the parasite causing an immune response. In addition, the immune response causes the body to send out special cells to fight the infection.
The parasite also can be passed to an infant during childbirth, if the mother is infected. It is therefore important for women of childbearing age to be screened. This could help to prevent the spread of the disease.
The CDC estimates that over 6000 Chagas-infected women deliver each year. The risk of vertical transmission is estimated to be between 1 and 5 percent. However, most infected people are asymptomatic.
The CDC recommends the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. However, the rate of transmission is likely higher in endemic countries. In addition, screening of siblings of infected mothers is important. It may also provide future health benefits for mothers.
Health Sources:
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U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
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Health A-Z. (2022, April 26). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770
Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
Health Conditions A-Z Sitemap. (n.d.). EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/conditions/
