exudates and Transfusion-Reaction

Overnight transfusion (OT) is the blood transfusion taking place from 9pm to 8am. During this period, patients are exposed to increased risk of errors. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the incidence and practice of OT in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.. Data from all OT in June and mid-July 2017 were collected from recipients' cards, transfusion request forms and patient's case files, regarding discipline involved, indications, time intervals from request of blood transfusion to the completion of OT on patients, monitoring of patients and adverse reactions.. A total of 1285 transfusion cases were identified during the study period. 216 (16.8%) cases were OT while the 1069 (83.2%) cases were non-OT. Surgery discipline has the highest (30.1%) OT. The indications of OT were acute clinical need: 82.9%, less acute clinical need: 13.9% and no clinical need: 3.2%. A huge delay (average: 5 hours 40 minutes) in starting transfusion after grouping and crossmatching (GXM) completion was noted. Besides, 25.9% cases took <4 hours to complete OT; 83.4% cases did not have proper transfusion monitoring and three transfusion reactions were reported.. Although most of the OT cases had appropriate clinical indications, the transfusion can be commenced earlier at day time rather than overnight. Cases without absolute indication should avoid OT. The poor monitoring of patient during OT had posed risks to patients' life if an adverse transfusion reaction happened. The major reason for OTs was a huge delay in starting transfusion after the GXM completion. The contravention of 4-hour infusion rule increased the patients' risk of developing bacterial sepsis. The practice of OT should be discouraged wherever possible except for clinically indicated cases.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood Transfusion; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Transfusion Reaction; Young Adult

Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) is a well-recognized risk of receiving blood transfusions, and has occurred with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae. The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is also known to be transmissible through inoculation of infected blood, and this species is now the most common cause of malaria in Malaysia with a high rate of severity and fatal cases reported. No confirmed case of accidental transfusion-transmitted P. knowlesi has yet been reported.. A 23-year old splenectomized patient with beta thalassaemia major presented with fever 11 days after receiving a blood transfusion from a pre-symptomatic donor who presented with knowlesi malaria 12 days following blood donation. The infection resulted in severe disease in the recipient, with a parasite count of 84,000/µL and associated metabolic acidosis and multi-organ failure. She was treated with intravenous artesunate and made a good recovery. Sequencing of a highly diverse 649-base pair fragment of the P. knowlesi bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene (pkdhfr) revealed that the recipient and donor shared the same haplotype.. This case demonstrates that acquisition of P. knowlesi from blood transfusion can occur, and that clinical consequences can be severe. Furthermore, this case raises the possibility that thalassaemic patients, particularly those who are splenectomized, may represent a high-risk group for TTM and severe malaria. With rising P. knowlesi incidence, further studies in Sabah are required to determine the risk of TTM in order to guide screening strategies for blood transfusion services.

Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Artemisinins; Artesunate; Female; Humans; Malaria; Malaysia; Plasmodium knowlesi; Splenectomy; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; Transfusion Reaction; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Human neutrophil antigens (HNA) are polymorphic and immunogenic proteins involved in the pathogenesis of neonatal alloimmune neutropenia, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-related alloimmune neutropenia. The characterisation of HNA at a population level is important for predicting the risk of alloimmunisation associated with blood transfusion and gestation and for anthropological studies.. Blood samples from 192 healthy, unrelated Malays were collected and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (HNA-1, -3, -4) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (HNA-5). The group comprised 30 Banjar, 37 Bugis, 51 Champa, 39 Jawa and 35 Kelantan Malays.. The most common HNA alleles in the Malays studied were HNA-1a (0.641-0.765), -3a (0.676-0.867), -4a (0.943-1.000) and -5a (0.529-0.910). According to principal coordinate plots constructed using HNA allele frequencies, the Malay sub-ethnic groups are closely related and grouped together with other Asian populations. The risks of TRALI or neonatal neutropenia were not increased for subjects with HNA-1, -3 and -4 loci even for donor and recipient or pairs from different Malay sub-ethnic groups. Nonetheless, our estimates showed significantly higher risks of HNA alloimmunisation during pregnancy and transfusion between Malays and other genetically differentiated populations such as Africans and Europeans.. This study reports HNA allele and genotype frequencies for the five Malay sub-ethnic groups living in Peninsular Malaysia for the first time. These Malay sub-ethnic groups show closer genetic relationships with other Asian populations than with Europeans and Africans. The distributions of HNA alleles in other lineages of people living in Malaysia (e.g. Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli) would be an interesting subject for future study.

Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Alleles; Ethnicity; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Isoantibodies; Isoantigens; Malaysia; Male; Neutropenia; Neutrophils; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Pregnancy; Risk; Transfusion Reaction

Malaria may be a serious complication of blood transfusion due to the asymptomatic persistence of parasites in some donors. This case report highlights the transfusion-transmitted malaria of Plasmodium vivax in a child diagnosed with germ cell tumour. This child had received blood transfusion from three donors and a week later started developing malaria like symptoms. Nested PCR and sequencing confirmed that one of the three donors was infected with P. vivax and this was transmitted to the 12-year-old child. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported transfusion-transmitted malaria case in Malaysia.

Topics: Child; DNA, Protozoan; Humans; Malaria, Vivax; Malaysia; Male; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Plasmodium vivax; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Transfusion Reaction

Toxoplasmosis is an important parasitic disease in immunosuppressed patients. This prospective study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence, associated risk factors and the incidence of clinically confirmed toxoplasmosis among renal patients at the University of Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We interviewed 247 renal patients, each of whom answered an epidemiological questionnaire, and collected blood samples for measurement of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA. Overall seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis was observed in 126 (51%) renal patients. Race (Malays), marital status (married) and primary level of education, were all factors associated with a greater chance of Toxoplasma infection. A case of clinically confirned toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a renal transplant recipient as a result of immunosuppression. Based on the findings obtained, this preliminary study shows a high prevalence of latent toxoplasmosis in renal patients. Risk factors may have significantly contributed to Toxoplasma acquisition in these patients. We recommend further studies be carried out to monitor for trends in toxoplasmosis among immunosuppressed patients.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Antibodies; Cats; Cooking; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eating; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Malaysia; Male; Marital Status; Meat; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Racial Groups; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis; Transfusion Reaction; Young Adult

Transfusion is an irreversible event which carries potential benefits as well as risk to the recipient. The objective of this study was to analyse all reported transfusion reactions of the year 2008 in the Blood Bank Unit of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). This is a retrospective study that was carried out by retrieving data from the laboratory information system. A total of 27842 transfusions were documented and the total reported transfusion reactions were 149. The incidence of transfusion reaction was 1 in 187 of all transfusions (0.54%); in which 69 (0.25%) were allergic in nature and 61 (0.22%) were febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR). Hypotensive reactions were identified in 6 (0.02%) patients. There were 9 (0.03%) cases reported with haemoglobinuria where no serological evidence of haemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) was found. One HTR (0.003%) was identified and this was due to an error in patient identification in the ward. Other specified reactions like transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), bacterial infections, Graft verses host disease (GVHD) were not reported. The highest frequency of the reactions occurred in the red cell transfusions which accounted for 111 cases. In conclusion, the incidences of transfusion reactions are low when compared to those reported by other centres.

Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Malaysia; Male; Medical Audit; Retrospective Studies; Transfusion Reaction

This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric daycare unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia to determine the prevalence of craniofacial deformities (CFD) and the association between these deformities and different clinical presentations among thalassemia patients. Patients were classified as either craniofacial deformity positive (CFD+) or craniofacial deformity negative (CFD-) by two examiners based on the presence or absence of deformity of the cheeks, frontal and/or maxillary bones. Fifteen clinical parameters were compared between the groups. Nineteen out of 43 patients (44.2%; confidence interval, 30.2-58.2%) had craniofacial deformities (CFD+). Both groups were comparable among the clinical parameters studied. Patients in the CFD+ group did not start their blood transfusions significantly earlier than the CFD- group (p = 0.50) and had a nonsignificantly lower mean pretransfusion hemoglobin level than the CFD- group (p = 0.71). Patients receiving regular monthly blood transfusions had a nonsignificantly smaller percentage of CFD than those transfused less often (p = 0.495). CFD+ patients had a splenectomy at a nonsignificantly younger age than CFD- patients (p = 0.36). HbE/beta thalassemia patients were not significantly less likely to develop CFD than other varieties (p = 0.50) and males had a nonsignificantly higher percentage of CFD than females (p = 0.29). This study shows CFD in thalassemia patients are still prevalent but no significant associated factors were found; however, a nonsignificantly higher prevalence of CFD was observed in patients with signs of severe disease and less efficient treatment.

Topics: Adolescent; Blood Transfusion; Child; Child, Preschool; Craniofacial Abnormalities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Erythropoiesis; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Thalassemia; Transfusion Reaction; Young Adult

Growth impairment is commonly seen in children with thalassemia despite regular blood transfusions and desferrioxamine treatments. We investigated the growth velocity of 26 prepubertal patients with beta-thalassemia or HbE-beta thalassemia who were transfusion dependent aged between 2 and 13 years. The prevalence of impaired growth velocity (ie, growth velocity less than the third percentile) amongst the transfusion dependent prepubertal thalassemics was 57.7% compared to 19.2% in the control group. The mean height velocity of the thalassemics was 11.1% less than controls but this difference was not statistically significant (4.23cm/year vs 4.76cm/year, p = 0.08). The mean serum ferritin level of the thalassemics with a height < 3rd percentile was higher compared to those with a height > 3rd percentile (4,567.0 vs 2,271.0, p = 0.01). Our study showed that there was a high prevalence of impaired growth velocity amongst our transfusion dependent prepubertal thalassemics. This highlights the problem of inadequate chelation therapy, and compliance with chelation therapy amongst our patients. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring growth parameters and optimal iron chelation therapy in these patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; beta-Thalassemia; Body Height; Child; Child, Preschool; China; Female; Ferritins; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Transfusion Reaction

Thalassaemia is one of the major public health problems in Malaysia. Regular monthly blood transfusion remains the main treatment for severe thalassaemia patients. One of the complications of blood transfusion is the formation by the recipients of alloantibodies and autoantibodies against red blood cell (RBC) antigen. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of RBC autoantibodies among multiple-transfused thalassaemic patients in our institution and factors that contribute to its development.. A prospective study was conducted in Haematology Laboratory, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia between January 2004 and December 2004. A total of 63 thalassaemia patients, who received regular blood transfusion were included in this study. Clinical and serological data were collected and analysed prospectively. Blood samples were subjected to standard blood bank procedures for screening of antibodies and their subsequent identification using reagent of Diamed-ID Gel microtyping system.. There were 49 (77.8 percent) patients with Hb E/beta-thalassaemia, ten (15.9 percent) beta-thalassaemia major, three (4.7 percent) Hb H Constant Spring and one (1.6 percent) Hb H disease. Only one (1.6 percent) patient had autoantibodies. There were no statistical associations found between the formation of autoantibodies with age at the start of transfusion, number of packed cell transfused and splenectomy.. Our data showed a low autoimmunisation rate in multiple-transfused thalassaemia patients in our hospital.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Autoantibodies; Blood Group Antigens; Child; Child, Preschool; Coombs Test; Erythrocytes; Female; Hospitals, University; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Thalassemia; Transfusion Reaction

Event reporting can provide data to study the failure points of an organization's work process. As part of the ongoing efforts to improve transfusion safety, a Medical Event Reporting System Transfusion Medicine, (MERS - TM) as designed by Kaplan et al was implemented in the Transfusion Medicine Unit of the University Malaya Medical Centre to provide a standardized means of organized data collection and analysis of transfusion errors, adverse events and near misses. An event reporting form was designed to detect, identify, classify and study the frequency and pattern of events occurring in the unit. Events detected were classified according to Eihdhoven Classification model (ECM) adopted for MERS - TM. Since our system reported all events, we called it Event Reporting System - Transfusion Medicine (ERS-TM). Data was collected and analyzed from the reporting forms for a period of five months from January 15th to June 15th 2002. The initial half of the period was a process of evaluation during which 118 events were reported, coded, analyzed and corrective measures adopted to prevent the recurrence of the same event. The latter half saw the reporting of 122 events following the adoption of corrective measures. There was a reduction in the occurrence of some events and an increase in others, which were mainly beyond the organization's control. A longer period of evaluation is necessary to identify the underlying contributory causes that can be useful to develop plans for corrective and preventive action and thereby reduce the rate of recurrence of errors through proper training and adoption of just culture.

Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Blood Transfusion; Data Collection; Database Management Systems; Hospital Information Systems; Humans; Malaysia; Medical Errors; Risk Management; Safety; Transfusion Reaction

Topics: Child; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Liability, Legal; Malaysia; Male; Pregnancy; Transfusion Reaction

Regular blood transfusions for patients with thalassemia have improved their overall survival although these transfusions carry a definite risk of the transmission of certain viruses. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to complications which contribute to the morbidity and mortality of patients with thalassemia. We analyzed the blood samples taken from 85 transfusion dependent thalassemics receiving treatment at the day care center in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and found that the seroprevalence rates for HBV, HCV and CMV were 2.4%, 22.4% and 91.8% respectively. None of the patients tested positive for HIV. Those positive for HBV and HCV will require further tests and treatment if chronic hepatitis is confirmed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; beta-Thalassemia; Child; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Transfusion Reaction

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Carrier State; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Antigens; Humans; Malaysia; Prospective Studies; Transfusion Reaction

Topics: Asian People; Chloroquine; Cold Temperature; Erythrocytes; Humans; Infant; Malaria; Malaysia; Male; Mosquito Control; Singapore; Transfusion Reaction