Which infection is classically transmitted via blood transfusion?

Which infection is classically transmitted via blood transfusion?

• A. HIV
• B. Hepatitis B
• C. Hepatitis C
• D. Malaria

Answer: (C)

Infections can spread through blood products, making transfusion a common route for certain pathogens. Hepatitis C is classically linked to transfusions because, before routine screening of donated blood, many hepatitis cases were acquired this way. The virus is bloodborne and often causes chronic infection, leading to long-term liver disease; with modern donor screening and NAT testing, the risk from transfused blood is now very low. While HIV and hepatitis B can also be transmitted by transfusion, hepatitis C is the example most historically associated with this route, and malaria can be transmitted by transfusion but is not the archetypal transfusion-transmitted infection.

Infections can spread through blood products, making transfusion a common route for certain pathogens. Hepatitis C is classically linked to transfusions because, before routine screening of donated blood, many hepatitis cases were acquired this way. The virus is bloodborne and often causes chronic infection, leading to long-term liver disease; with modern donor screening and NAT testing, the risk from transfused blood is now very low. While HIV and hepatitis B can also be transmitted by transfusion, hepatitis C is the example most historically associated with this route, and malaria can be transmitted by transfusion but is not the archetypal transfusion-transmitted infection.