Bridging the critical gap between infectious disease blood donation screening and connection to healthcare services: the American Chagas disease example

M K Lynn; Mary Parker; Susan L Stramer; Rebecca L Townsend; Melissa S Nolan

doi:10.1057/s41271-024-00539-5

Bridging the critical gap between infectious disease blood donation screening and connection to healthcare services: the American Chagas disease example

J Public Health Policy. 2024 Dec 18. doi: 10.1057/s41271-024-00539-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

M K Lynn¹, Mary Parker², Susan L Stramer³, Rebecca L Townsend⁴, Melissa S Nolan^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Infectious Disease Translational Research, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
² School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
³ Independent Infectious Disease Consultant, North Potomac, MD, USA.
⁴ Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
⁵ Institute for Infectious Disease Translational Research, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. msnolan@mailbox.sc.edu.
⁶ Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Suite 327, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA. msnolan@mailbox.sc.edu.

PMID: 39695217
DOI: 10.1057/s41271-024-00539-5

Abstract

Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) affects ~ 290,000 USA residents and is included in routine blood donation screening panels. Donors are notified of positive T. cruzi-screening results, deferred from donation, and given limited information for next steps. Individuals living with undiagnosed, uncommon infections often face substantial barriers in accessing physicians with infectious disease competency, confirmatory testing, and continuum of care after the point of blood donor deferral. We assessed 46 T. cruzi-deferred donors' experience following deferral, highlight donor challenges, and provide public health institution opportunities to support cases of rare transfusion-transmitted infections in the USA.

Keywords: T. cruzi; Blood donor screening; Chagas disease; Rare and neglected infections; Transfusion-transmitted infections; USA.

Publication types

Review