An investigation into the possibility of transmission of tick-borne pathogens via blood transfusion

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne illnesses were diagnosed in a group of National Guar d members, including some who had donated blood a few days before the onset of symptoms. A voluntary recall of those blood components was issued and a multistate investigation was conducted to determine if transfusion-transmi tted illness had occurred. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors and recipients were asked to complete ques tionnaires regarding symptoms and risk factors for infection and to provide blood samples for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Among National Guard personnel who donated blood, 12 individuals w ere found to have a confirmed or probable case of Rocky Mountain spotted fe ver or ehrlichiosis. A total of 320 units (platelets or packed red cells) f rom 377 donors were transfused into 129 recipients. Although 10 recipients received units from National Guard personnel with confirmed or probable inf ection, none became ill. CONCLUSION: Transfusion-transmitted illness did not occur. Despite the awar eness of the risk for tick-borne diseases and the use of tick-preventive me asures, many National Guard personnel reported exposure to ticks. In additi on to augmenting current tick-preventive measures, scheduling blood drives before rather than after field exercises could further reduce the potential for transmission of tick-borne pathogens.