A Case of Possible Chagas Transmission by Blood Transfusion in Switzerland

Abstract

Out of 54 donations given by the index donor (ID), we identified 77 blood products which were delivered to hospitals. Archived serum samples from the donations given during the prior 5 years were available for retrospective testing. All samples from ID revealed positive findings for anti-<i>T. cruzi</i> IgG. Donor-triggered look-back procedure identified a 70-year-old male recipient of a platelet concentrate (PC) donated by ID. The recipient succumbed of acute <i>T. cruzi</i> infection 2 years after transfusion of the PC.