Which of the following infection is transmitted through Blood Transfusion?

NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Explanation

Blood transfusions can transmit various pathogens present in a donor's blood.
Hepatitis B and C are well-known viral infections transmitted through blood.
Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted through infected red blood cells.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus carried in white blood cells that can be transmitted via transfusion.
Since all the listed options are valid examples of transfusion-transmitted infections, the most comprehensive and correct answer is 'All of the above'.

Option A: This option is correct but incomplete. While Hepatitis B and C are major transfusion-transmitted infections, they are not the only ones listed that can be transmitted.
Option B: This option is correct but incomplete. Malaria is a known transfusion-transmitted parasitic infection, but the other options are also correct.
Option C: This option is correct but incomplete. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be transmitted through blood, particularly via white blood cells, but the other listed infections are also transmissible.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Transfusion-Transmitted Infections (TTIs) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must be vigilant in verifying blood products and monitoring patients for signs of transfusion reactions, including infections. This includes fever, chills, jaundice, and changes in urine color.
For high-risk patients (e.g., neonates, transplant recipients, immunocompromised), nurses should understand and confirm the use of specialized blood products like CMV-negative or leukoreduced components to prevent severe infections.
What if? If a patient develops a fever and jaundice two weeks after a blood transfusion, the nurse should suspect a delayed transfusion reaction or a TTI like hepatitis and report it immediately for investigation. This underscores the importance of post-transfusion monitoring and patient education.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the question carefully to understand what is being asked: 'Which...infection is transmitted through Blood Transfusion?'
Evaluate each option individually based on your knowledge of transfusion medicine.
Consider Option A: 'Viral Hepatitis C & Hepatitis B'. Recall that these are classic, well-known blood-borne viruses. This is a correct statement.
Consider Option B: 'Malaria'. Recall that malaria is a parasite that infects red blood cells, making it transmissible via blood transfusion. This is also a correct statement.
Consider Option C: 'Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection'. Recall that CMV is a virus carried in white blood cells and is a known risk in transfusions, especially for certain patient populations. This is also a correct statement.
When you identify that multiple options (A, B, and C) are individually correct, look for an option like 'All of the above'. Since all three are confirmed TTIs, this becomes the most complete and accurate answer.

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