CDC Advancing Hemovigilance to Identify Transfusion-Transmitted Infections

 

To: Facility Administrators and Infection Preventionists From: CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program  The CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program encourages healthcare facilities to voluntarily enroll in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) hemovigilance module in 2026. The module tracks infrequent (a handful of events in the U.S. every one to two years) but serious transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) nationwide to facilitate a rapid public health response. All U.S. healthcare facilities that transfuse blood components and manufactured blood products are eligible to report.  Earlier this year, the CDC updated the hemovigilance module of the NHSN Biovigilance Component to quickly and systematically identify emerging pathogens that blood transfusions can transmit. The new module (version 3.0) is substantially streamlined compared with the previous version. Participating healthcare facilities’ laboratory systems will flag pathogens of interest.* The flag prompts the hospital epidemiologist or infection preventionist to review the patient’s 30-day transfusion history and send an alert to the CDC via NHSN if the test is positive. The CDC will work with the CDPHE HAI/AR Program to investigate TTIs in Colorado.  Eligible healthcare facilities can now enroll in the new hemovigilance module, complete the Annual Facility Survey, and report through the NHSN Biovigilance Component.  TTIs can be severe and geographically widespread, but providers frequently under-identify them. Enrolling in the NHSN hemovigilance module 3.0 helps keep patients and the public safe. Enrollment is voluntary. To voluntarily enroll your healthcare facility, follow the steps outlined in the Facility Next Steps NHSN Hemovigilance flyer. For questions about using NHSN or the public health response to TTIs in Colorado, email the HAI/AR Program at cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us. *Pathogens of interest include:  Viruses: Cache Valley virus, Colorado tick fever virus, dengue virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Oropouche virus, Powassan virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus.  Bacteria: Acinetobacter baumannii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Ehrlichia spp., Leclercia adecarboxylata, Rickettsia rickettsii.  Parasites: Babesia spp., Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp. (malaria). Facility Next Steps NHSN Hemovigilance flyer