TRANSFUSION TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTIONS AMONG BETA THALASSEMIA PATIENTS: CHALLENGES AND INSIGHTS

The blood transfusion is the most common procedure in healthcare facilities which saves millions of lives every year. However, it is the main source of disease transmission among the people who undergo this procedure more frequently. The patients suffering from thalassemia are categorized among the most frequent blood recipients. Therefore, the chance of transmitting the transfusion-transmittable Infections (TTIs) such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, syphilis, and malaria are more common in these patients as compared to others. Due to increasing reports related to the improper pre-transfusion screenings and increasing number of hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients in Pakistan, it seems that the incidence of TTIs is also increasing especially among the patients experiencing multiple transfusions. Therefore, the present project was designed to study the prevalence of TTIs in patients suffering from thalassemia in Faisalabad Pakistan. The total 200 blood samples from beta-thalassemia patients were collected from the Faisalabad region of Pakistan. Male patients were 130 (65%) and females were 70 (35%). The blood group of O+ve has high frequency and rate of infection 47(33.09%) as compare to other ABO blood groups B+ve 40 (28.16%), A+ve 23 (16.19%), B-negative 13 (9.15%), AB+ve 10 (7.04%) and O-negative 07 (4.92%). Similarly, the prevalence rate of HCV was more detected as compare to other TTIs as 111(55.5%). HIV rate was 20 (10%). Malaria Parasites was 7(3.5%), Syphilis was 3 (1.5%) and HBsAg was 01 (0.5%) in beta-thalassemia patients. It also shows the high prevalence rate of infections in the age group of 6-10 years’ patients that have transfused blood 50-100 pints 93 (65.49%). So these rate of infections can be controlled by a proper screening of blood and educate people about thalassemia.