OBJECTIVES: To follow up recipients of 20 000 units of blood to identify any transmissions of infections through blood transfusion. DESIGN: Follow up study of recipients of transfusion. SETTING: 22 hospitals in north London. PARTICIPANT: Adult patients who had recently been transfused. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients had further blood samples taken at 9 months that were tested for markers of hepatitis B and C and HIV and human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type I or II (HTLV) infections. Recent infections were distinguished from pre-existing infections by comparison with blood samples taken before transfusion. RESULTS: 9220 patients were recruited, and 5579 recipients of 21 923 units of blood were followed up. No transfusion transmitted infections were identified. The incidence of transfusion transmitted infections was 0 in 21 043 units (95% confidence interval for risk 0 to 1 in 5706 recipients) for hepatitis B; 0 in 21 800 units (0 to 1 in 5911 recipients) for hepatitis C; 0 in 21 923 units (0 to 1 in 5944 recipients) for HIV; and 0 in 21 902 units (0 to 1 in 5939 recipients) for human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. Three patients acquired hepatitis B during or after hospital admission but not through transfusion; 176 (3%) had pre-existing hepatitis B infection. Sixteen (0.29%) patients had hepatitis C, and five (0.09%) had human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. CONCLUSIONS: The current risk of transfusion transmitted infections in the United Kingdom is very small, though hospital acquired infections may arise from sources other than transfusion. A considerable proportion of patients have pre-existing infections.
OBJECTIVES: To follow up recipients of 20 000 units of blood to identify any transmissions of infections through blood transfusion. DESIGN: Follow up study of recipients of transfusion. SETTING: 22 hospitals in north London. PARTICIPANT: Adult patients who had recently been transfused. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients had further blood samples taken at 9 months that were tested for markers of hepatitis B and C and HIV and human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type I or II (HTLV) infections. Recent infections were distinguished from pre-existing infections by comparison with blood samples taken before transfusion. RESULTS: 9220 patients were recruited, and 5579 recipients of 21 923 units of blood were followed up. No transfusion transmitted infections were identified. The incidence of transfusion transmitted infections was 0 in 21 043 units (95% confidence interval for risk 0 to 1 in 5706 recipients) for hepatitis B; 0 in 21 800 units (0 to 1 in 5911 recipients) for hepatitis C; 0 in 21 923 units (0 to 1 in 5944 recipients) for HIV; and 0 in 21 902 units (0 to 1 in 5939 recipients) for humanT cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. Three patients acquired hepatitis B during or after hospital admission but not through transfusion; 176 (3%) had pre-existing hepatitis B infection. Sixteen (0.29%) patients had hepatitis C, and five (0.09%) had humanT cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus. CONCLUSIONS: The current risk of transfusion transmitted infections in the United Kingdom is very small, though hospital acquired infections may arise from sources other than transfusion. A considerable proportion of patients have pre-existing infections.
Authors: N D Cohen; A Muñoz; B A Reitz; P K Ness; O H Frazier; D H Yawn; H Lee; W Blattner; J G Donahue; K E Nelson Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1989-05-04 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: M Kojima; M Shimizu; T Tsuchimochi; M Koyasu; S Tanaka; H Iizuka; T Tanaka; H Okamoto; F Tsuda; Y Miyakawa Journal: Vox Sang Date: 1991 Impact factor: 2.144
Authors: M Contreras; J A Barbara; C C Anderson; E Ranasinghe; C Moore; M T Brennan; D R Howell; S Aloysius; A Yardumian Journal: Lancet Date: 1991-03-30 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: J W Mosley; C E Stevens; R D Aach; F B Hollinger; L T Mimms; L R Solomon; L H Barbosa; G J Nemo Journal: Transfusion Date: 1995-01 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: M Brennan; J Runganga; J A Barbara; M Contreras; R S Tedder; J A Garson; P W Tuke; P P Mortimer; L McAlpine; J H Tosswill Journal: BMJ Date: 1993-11-13
Authors: Julian C L Wong; Francesco Torella; Sarah L Haynes; Kirsteen Dalrymple; Andrew J Mortimer; Charles N McCollum Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2002-01 Impact factor: 12.969