Posttransfusion cytomegalovirus infections.

Abstract

Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been recognized as a potential hazard of blood transfusion since 1966,1 few transfusion services provide blood components that have been selected specifically for low risk of infectivity with CMV. The objective of this commentary is to provide a review of the epidemiology of posttransfusion CMV infections with special reference to recent recommendations for its control by donor antibody screening and other blood bank procedures. In the healthy immunocompetent child or adult, posttransfusion CMV infection usually results in asymptomatic seroconversion or is manifested as a mild heterophile-negative mononucleosis syndrome. There is minimal morbidity associated with these transfusion-related infections and, therefore, minimal need for special CMV-free blood components.2