Which one of the following viruses causes post transfusion hepatitis?

NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is primarily transmitted through parenteral routes, with blood transfusion being a major historical mode of transmission.
HCV was the leading cause of what was formerly known as 'non-A, non-B hepatitis' in transfusion recipients.
It has a very high rate of progressing to chronic infection (70-85%), making it a significant long-term complication of transfusion.
While screening has made it rare, its historical association and high chronicity make it the correct answer.

Option A: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted almost exclusively through the fecal-oral route (contaminated food and water). It is not considered a cause of post-transfusion hepatitis as it has a very brief viremic phase and does not establish a chronic carrier state.
Option B: While Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through blood, routine and highly effective screening of all donated blood for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has made post-transfusion HBV infection uncommon in countries with modern blood banking practices.
Option D: Hepatitis D virus (HDV), also known as the delta agent, is an incomplete virus. It can only infect and replicate in individuals who are already infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Therefore, it cannot cause post-transfusion hepatitis on its own.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The primary viral agent responsible for causing hepatitis following a blood transfusion as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the routes of transmission for different hepatitis viruses is fundamental for patient education and implementing correct infection control precautions.
Nurses play a key role in monitoring patients for signs and symptoms of hepatitis post-transfusion, including jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain, and ensuring timely reporting and testing.
Patient safety relies on meticulous blood screening. The risk of post-transfusion HCV is now extremely low (around 1 in 1-2 million units) in many countries due to Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT), which detects the virus itself, not just the antibody response.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the virus that causes hepatitis after a blood transfusion.
This immediately points to a blood-borne pathogen. Recall the primary transmission routes for each hepatitis virus.
Eliminate Hepatitis A, as it is transmitted via the fecal-oral route.
Consider the remaining blood-borne viruses: B, C, and D.
Recall that Hepatitis D requires a co-infection with Hepatitis B, making it a less direct cause.
Differentiate between Hepatitis B and C in the context of transfusions. While both are blood-borne, remember that Hepatitis C was historically the most common cause of post-transfusion hepatitis (often called 'non-A, non-B hepatitis') before effective screening was developed.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The primary viral agent responsible for causing hepatitis following a blood transfusion.
Stem keywords: virus, post transfusion hepatitis
Lead-in keywords: Which one

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

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