title: Transfusion-transmitted infections.
abstract: Although the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections today is lower than ever, the supply of safe blood products remains subject to contamination with known and yet to be identified human pathogens. Only continuous improvement and implementation of donor selection, sensitive screening tests and effective inactivation procedures can ensure the elimination, or at least reduction, of the risk of acquiring transfusion transmitted infections. In addition, ongoing education and up-to-date information regarding infectious agents that are potentially transmitted via blood components is necessary to promote the reporting of adverse events, an important component of transfusion transmitted disease surveillance. Thus, the collaboration of all parties involved in transfusion medicine, including national haemovigilance systems, is crucial for protecting a secure blood product supply from known and emerging blood-borne pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Partners AIDS Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. f.bihl@mac.com
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bihl
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marincola
authors.forename: Roger Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brander
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control