CME Credits: 1.25

Type: Oral

Summary: Biovigilance is defined as a patient safety program to collect, analyze, and report on the outcomes of transfusion and/or transplantation of blood components, cells, tissues, and organs. Transplant-transmitted infections are an important but under-recognized subset of HAIs; in addition, although infections are most often documented, malignancies also can be transmitted to recipients. Diseases are most readily transmitted through organs, but other tissues can also be at risk, resulting in poor outcomes. Pathogens and diseases transmitted through organs or tissues have included HIV, HBV, HCV, West Nile virus, rabies, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Group A streptococcus, Clostridium spp., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, fungi, and Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas Disease. Traceability is critical when suspected disease clusters occur. The Joint Commission has implemented standards for healthcare facility storage, issuance, and adverse event monitoring and requires the assignment of responsibility for handling tissue within a hospital to a single coordinating entity. It is critical to identify a consistent point of contact in order to have a robust hospital biovigilance program that can coordinate internally, and communicate promptly with public health authorities and other partners.