Infectious complications of blood transfusion

Consequent to refined donor selection and laboratory screening, blood transfusion in the United States is remarkably safe. Nonetheless, emerging and reemerging pathogens may pose risk to the blood supply, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance and development of innovative strategies to mitigate infectious risk. The following chapter is intended to provide a broad overview of the infectious complications of blood transfusion. This includes a description of the major transfusion transmitted pathogens, associated preventative strategies in use (donor risk-based deferral and donor and product laboratory testing), in addition to practical considerations surrounding how one responds to a suspected and/or confirmed transfusion transmitted infection (i.e., quarantine, look-back, and notification).