HIV Transmission From Contaminated Blood Remains High in Developing Countries -- HIV/AIDS INFO AND UPDATES

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Date Posted: 21:59:21 02/28/02 Thu
Author: Anonymous
Subject: HIV Transmission From Contaminated Blood Remains High in Developing Countries

HIV Transmission From Contaminated Blood Remains High in Developing Countries

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 19 - Although HIV transmission from contaminated blood is rare in developed countries, up to 10% of HIV infection in developing countries results from contaminated blood or blood products, researchers report.

Writing in the February 19th issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. Charles L. Bennett, from Veterans Affairs Chicago Healthcare System, and colleagues review the current safety concerns in maintaining a safe blood supply.

"This article raises the importance of the policy aspects of the safety of the blood supply," Dr. Bennett told Reuters Health. Dr. Bennett said that the idea of zero tolerance is unlikely to be useful in maintaining a safe blood supply because, despite the best of intentions, the effect of decisions made today is not known for decades.

Although HIV transmission through contaminated blood remains a problem in developing countries, the authors stress that the desire to improve the safety of the blood supply has resulted in the implementation of a zero tolerance policy that often involves spending money on technology and policies that may not prove cost-effective.

"In a world of limited resources, implementing costly but not highly cost-effective procedures or policies may result in constraints in other areas and loss of previously realized benefits to a greater number of persons," Dr. Bennett's team cautions.

"Just like the developed countries are being asked to help developing countries cope with the AIDS epidemic, there may need to be partnerships to help promote the safety of the blood supply," Dr. Bennett said.

"Only rational policy backed by scientific evidence is likely to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of persons in a society," Dr. Bennett and colleagues stress.

Ann Intern Med 2002;136:312-319.

Reuters Health Information 2002. � 2002 Reuters Ltd
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