Abstract
Need for frequent blood transfusions exposes thalassemia major patients to risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). Screening of donor blood through national protocols for possible infections like hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and malaria is considered the optimal preventive method. There is constant need to explore the effect of currently used protocols of blood-donor screening by determining the burden of TTIs in multi-transfused patients. The current study was conducted to determine the burden of TTIs among multi-transfused Thalassemia patients registered at a Government hospital of central India. Sixty-six multi-transfused Thalassemia patients reporting during a period of eight months were screened for hepatitis B and C, HIV as well as syphilis by using standard diagnostic tests. Selected clinical, socio-demographic and other characteristics were also recorded to understand the determinants of risks of these infections. The sero-prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis was 3.0, 18.2, 1.5 and 0 % respectively amongst the patients. Vaccination against hepatitis B was found to be protective. Majority of the infected patients had history of transfusion from non government blood banks. There is a considerable burden of Hepatitis C among multi-transfused Thalassemia patients. The currently used screening tests need to be revalidated or replaced to prevent false-negative diagnoses. All sectors need to optimally implement and control both, the quality of blood donors and the mandatory screening of blood and blood products against the TTIs along with prospective longitudinal data and follow up of patients.