Prevalence of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections in Multi-Transfused Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease Patients: A Single Center Experience from Southern Odisha, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Repeated transfusion in sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients lead to transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). The prevalence, as well as various risk factors for TTIs in these patients, is found to be inconsistent. This study aimed to observe the prevalence, types of infections as well as risk factors for TTIs in a tertiary health care center. Materials and Methods: This observational study was undertaken on both SCD and TDT patients admitted to the hospital for a transfusion. In all patients, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based test kit was used for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 (HIV 1 and 2). However, a rapid test kit was used for the diagnosis of malaria and syphilis. Detailed information on age of the patients, duration of transfusion, and number of transfusion as risk factors were recorded. The association of factors with various infections was analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 153 patients were recruited including 49 SCD and 104 TDT patients. Of 153 patients, 25 patients were found to have infections including HCV in 22 (14.38%) patients, HBV in 2 (1.31%) patients, and HIV in 2 patients (1 patient was positive for both HCV and HBV). Out of 25 TTIs patients, 7 patients had SCD and 18 patients had TDT. On the association, only an increased number of transfusion per year was found to be significantly associated with TTIs (P = 0.008) in SCD patients. However, all the risk factors were found to be associated with TTIs except gender in TDT patients. Conclusion: The occurrence of TTIs was found to be associated with older patients, increased number of transfusion per year, and large duration of transfusion. The increasing trend in the TTIs in these patients calls for a shift toward preventive and comprehensive care to reduce the health burden.