Transfusion Transmitted Infections: A Present-Day Danger for Pakistan

Syed Owais Javed Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan;

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Aqsa Saleem Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan;

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Abdul Moiz Sahito Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan;

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Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh;
Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh

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ABSTRACT.

Over 1.5 million units of blood are collected in Pakistan each year, with around 65% of this donation coming from replacement donors—relatives or close friends of the affected who willingly donate blood to support the patient. Although blood transfusion is a life-saving therapy, it also involves the danger of spreading blood-borne illnesses if not appropriately screened. It has been extensively discussed that the precise number of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) in the Pakistani population is still unclear, and the estimates reported by the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority may be a major underestimation because of the country’s lack of inexpensive and effective screening tests. Regular blood transfusions are the mainstay of treatment of patients with blood diseases such as thalassemia and anemia. They are also commonly used to handle acute injuries, surgery, bleeding, and birthing difficulties. However, the risk of getting a TTI results in an increased hesitancy among blood transfusion recipients. Hence, to reduce the occurrence of TTIs, effective and vigorous measures must be implemented.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail 1902, Bangladesh. E-mail: mehedi.bmb.mbstu@gmail.com

Authors’ addresses: Syed Owais Javed, Aqsa Saleem, and Abdul Moiz Sahito, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, E-mails: syedowaisjaved97@gmail.com, aqsa.salim97@gmail.com, and sahitomoiz@gmail.com. Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh, and Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh, E-mail: mehedi.bmb.mbstu@gmail.com.

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