Current risk for transfusion transmitted infections.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: 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.

RECENT FINDINGS: 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.

SUMMARY: 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.