Microbes Transmitted Through Blood

What viruses can be transmitted through blood transfusion?

The viruses that can be transmitted through blood transfusion are HIV Type-1, hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C and other hepatitis viruses, cytomegalovirus, West Nile virus, Parvovirus B-19, HTLV type-I (human T cell lymphotropic virus) etc.

What bacteria can be transmitted through blood transfusion?

The bacteria (mostly gram-negative bacteria) that can be transmitted through blood transfusion are Pseudomonas, Yersinia, Serratia, Acinetobacter and Escherichia species, as they can grow at temperature between 1- 6°C (blood is stored at this temperature). The transmission of bacteria through blood transfusion is mainly due to contamination of blood after collection, but transmission of virus through blood transfusion is due to presence of viral disease (the viral disease is generally asymptomatic or during incubation period, which may be of long duration) in the blood donor.

Gram-positive bacteria such as coagulase-negative staphylococci may also be transmitted; especially platelet concentrates, as it is stored at room temperature which can help growth of contaminated bacteria.

What other infectious agents are transmitted through blood transfusion?

The infectious agents other than virus and bacteria which can be transmitted through blood transfusion are malarial parasites, agents causing diseases such as syphilis (caused by Treponema pallidum), Chagas disease (caused by parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi), babesiosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (caused by infectious protein particles known as “prion”), Lyme disease (caused by a spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) etc.