Training Transfusion Medicine Specialists in Planetary Health and Infectious Diseases

Overview

There is a growing need to integrate planetary health and infectious diseases education into transfusion medicine training due to climate change and emerging infectious threats. Dedicated infectious diseases consultation services within transfusion medicine and blood banking (TM/BB) can enhance hemovigilance and improve blood transfusion safety.

Background

Climate change has accelerated the emergence and reemergence of vector-borne infectious diseases, posing new risks to the blood supply. Transfusion medicine specialists play a critical role in hemovigilance, ensuring the safety and stability of blood products. However, infectious diseases consultation services dedicated to TM/BB are rare in academic centers. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center's Infectious Diseases Section is a notable exception, providing a model for integrating infectious diseases expertise into transfusion medicine.

Data Highlights

Key activities at NIH's Infectious Diseases Section include monitoring residual risks of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), evaluating emerging infectious agents, assessing testing technologies, and tracking seasonal variations in pathogens such as West Nile Virus. These efforts support real-time adjustments in screening and improve understanding of treatment efficacy, such as with COVID-19 convalescent plasma.

Key Findings

• There is an urgent need to incorporate planetary health and infectious diseases education into TM/BB clinical training to address emerging infectious threats linked to climate change.
• Few academic centers currently have dedicated infectious diseases consultation services within transfusion medicine, limiting specialized hemovigilance.
• The NIH Infectious Diseases Section serves as a successful model by integrating infectious diseases expertise into TM/BB clinical practice and education.
• Multidisciplinary teams tracking transfusion-transmitted infections can improve blood safety and inform infectious diseases screening strategies.
• Collaboration with public health agencies and blood collection organizations enhances disease pattern tracking and donor/recipient protection.
• Developing hospital-based infectious diseases consultation services in TM/BB can strengthen clinical education and blood supply safety.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians and educators should advocate for the establishment of infectious diseases consultation services within transfusion medicine to improve hemovigilance and blood safety. Incorporating planetary health and emerging infectious diseases topics into training curricula will better prepare specialists to respond to evolving transfusion-transmitted infection risks. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for effective surveillance and management of bloodborne pathogens.

Conclusion

Integrating specialized infectious diseases consultation into transfusion medicine enhances clinical education and safeguards the blood supply amid emerging infectious threats driven by climate change. Expanding such models across institutions will advance planetary health and transfusion safety.

References

1. Harvey Alter/NIH/1980s -- Natural history studies of hepatitis C virus
2. Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) -- Blood safety and infectious diseases