Which one of the following viruses cause post transfusion hepatitis?

JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Explanation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen and is historically the leading cause of post-transfusion hepatitis.
Before the advent of reliable screening tests in the early 1990s, HCV was responsible for the vast majority of hepatitis cases acquired through blood transfusions.
It was previously known as 'non-A, non-B hepatitis' because the causative agent was unknown but was clearly transmitted via blood.
Even with modern screening, there remains a very small residual risk, and HCV is still considered the classic cause of post-transfusion hepatitis.

Option A: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted almost exclusively through the fecal-oral route, such as consuming contaminated food or water. It is not a blood-borne virus and is not a cause of post-transfusion hepatitis.
Option B: While Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through blood, routine screening of blood donors for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) was implemented earlier and is highly effective, making it a less common cause of post-transfusion hepatitis compared to the historical prevalence of HCV.
Option D: Hepatitis D virus (HDV), or Delta virus, is an incomplete virus that requires the presence of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate. It cannot cause infection on its own.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Viral causes of post-transfusion hepatitis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This knowledge is crucial for nurses to understand the importance of stringent blood screening protocols and the history of transfusion-transmitted diseases.
Nurses play a key role in educating patients who received blood transfusions before 1992 about their potential risk for chronic Hepatitis C and the need for testing.
Patient safety in transfusions relies on meticulous screening. Understanding the risks helps reinforce the need for vigilance and adherence to protocols.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'post-transfusion hepatitis' and 'virus'. This points to a blood-borne viral infection.
Recall the primary transmission routes for each hepatitis virus listed in the options.
Eliminate Hepatitis A, as it is transmitted via the fecal-oral route.
Eliminate Hepatitis D, as it is a co-infection with Hepatitis B and not a primary cause.
Differentiate between Hepatitis B and C. While both are blood-borne, recall or deduce that Hepatitis C was historically the major cause of post-transfusion hepatitis before effective screening was developed.
Select Hepatitis C as the best answer based on its strong historical and clinical association with blood transfusions.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Microbiology OneStop Sastry pp. 96-98, 98-100

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 61-63