Abstract
In Canada and other countries, many steps are taken to minimize the risk of infection through the transfusion of blood or blood products (1). However, the infection risk can never be zero because these are biological products that are taken from living donors who are never 'germ free' (2). This is in contrast to drugs that can be manufactured de novo under sterile conditions in a laboratory. The present note provides an update on transfusion infection risks in Canada. It replaces the 2004 note (3) and may be helpful to practitioners in discussions with patients and parents toward obtaining informed consent before blood or blood product administration.
Highlights
In Canada and other countries, many steps are taken to minimize the risk of infection through the transfusion of blood or blood products [1]
A study in critically ill adults [5] showed that, in terms of outcomes, a restrictive transfusion policy in which red blood cells were transfused only if the hemoglobin concentration dropped below 70 g/L and hemoglobin concentrations were maintained at 70 g/L to 90 g/L is at least as effective and possibly superior to a liberal transfusion strategy in which red blood cells are transfused if the hemoglobin concentration fell below 100 g/L and hemoglobin concentration maintained at 100 g/L to 120 g/L
A preliminary report has shown that a restrictive transfusion policy in very low birth weight infants appears to be safe [6]
Summary
In Canada and other countries, many steps are taken to minimize the risk of infection through the transfusion of blood or blood products [1]. The infection risk can never be zero because these are biological products that are taken from living donors who are never ‘germ free’ [2]. This is in contrast to drugs that can be manufactured de novo under sterile conditions in a laboratory. The present note provides an update on transfusion infection risks in Canada It replaces the 2004 note [3] and may be helpful to practitioners in discussions with patients and parents toward obtaining informed consent before blood or blood product administration. The ongoing Transfusion Transmitted Injuries Surveillance System in Canada (Table 1), which looks for serious adverse events with receiving of blood or blood product infusions, has found that while there is a high degree of safety, there
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