Based on hemovigilance data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), viral transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) are rare while bacterial contamination of platelets and transfusion-transmitted babesiosis occur more frequently. The NHSN Hemovigilance Module began monitoring infections associated with transfusions in January 2010. Based on data from 308 facilities which transfused 7.9 million blood components over 6 years, 111 TTIs were reported. Of the 111 TTIs, 54 were confirmed . Almost 70% of the confirmed TTIs were bacterial (37/54); 30% (16/54) were Babesia TTIs (the only parasitic specie reported); and one case (2%) was viral (hepatitis C virus). The rate of bacterial contamination of platelets was 1.95 per 100,000 transfused (26 from apheresis and 4 from whole blood) compared to 0.68 TTI for all transfused components . Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly reported bacteria. Bacterial contamination of platelets and Babesia in RBCs should be targeted for interventions in order to further reduce TTIs.
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