Transfusion-Transmitted Infections and associated risk factors at the Northern Zone Blood Transfusion Center in Tanzania: A study of blood donors between 2017 and 2019

Prevalence trends of transfusion-transmitted infections at a tertiary private hospital blood bank in Uganda: a retrospective 6-year review (2017-2022)

BACKGROUND

Blood transfusion is a life-saving medical intervention that can transmit transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). In Uganda, prevalent infections in the general population may increase the risk of TTIs. This study determined the trends in seroprevalence of TTIs, including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and syphilis among blood donations over a 6-year period at a tertiary hospital blood bank in Uganda.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study utilizing data from Mengo Hospital Rotary Blood Bank in central Uganda. Data was accessed through the central electronic system of Uganda Blood Transfusion Services for January 2017 to December 2022. Data was analyzed using STATA version 16.0. Descriptive statistics and time trend analysis were performed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

We analyzed 24,547 blood donations, the majority of which were male donors (18,525, 75.5%) within the age group of 25-40 years (9737, 39.7%) and of Blood group O (12,509, 51.0%). The overall prevalence of TTIs was 8.7% (2,142) and significantly higher among males (8.9%, p < 0.001) and those over 40 years (10.7%, p < 0.01). Syphilis had the highest prevalence at 3.0%, followed by HBV (2.8%), HCV (1.7%), and HIV (1.3%). Co-infections were observed in 0.6% (136) of the donors, with the most common being HBV and syphilis (33, 0.1%). The prevalence trends of TTIs analysed among new donations decreased from 13.7% in 2017 to 8.9% in 2022 (p = 0.124). Only HCV showed a statistically significant variation, decreasing from 5.2% in 2017 to 1.7% in 2022 (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

There is a decreasing trend of TTIs among blood donors in Central Uganda, although the prevalence of HBV and Syphilis remains high. Additional public health interventions to decrease TTI rates in the general population may increase the safety of blood transfusions.

Seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis among blood donors in a Nigerian tertiary medical centre

BACKGROUND

Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), such as HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis, present considerable difficulties in maintaining blood quality despite the critical role of blood transfusion in emergency medical care. This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of these infections and the factors that increase their risk among those who donate blood.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Federal Medical Center in Azare, involving 400 blood donors. Serological tests were conducted for HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis, and sociodemographic data was collected through a structured questionnaire. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were employed to detect associated risk factors, with a significance level set at P < 0.05.

RESULT

Of the total blood donors, 17.00% (68/400) tested positive for at least one TTIs. The presence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis was identified in 2.8% (11/400), 8.3% (33/400), 1.8% (7/400), and 4.3% (17/400) of the donors, respectively. Multivariate analysis, after adjustments with various variables, indicates only commercial blood donors [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) (95% CI): 14.63 (1.76-121.27)] and multiple sexual partners [AOR (95% CI): 5.40 (1.28-22.70)] were associated with HIV, while blood transfusion and piercing or tattoo were associated with HBV. Multiple sexual partners and a history of STDs were associated with syphilis infection.

CONCLUSION

TTIs such as HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis were detected among the blood donors, with HBV being the most common. The findings highlight a gender disparity in blood donation, with voluntary donors comprising the majority; nevertheless, commercial donors had the highest prevalence of TTIs. Enhanced donor screening and public awareness are crucial for blood safety.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in Arua regional blood bank, Uganda

BACKGROUND

Blood transfusion services play a very key role in modern health care service delivery. About 118.5 million blood donations were collected globally in 2022. However, about 1.6 million units of blood are destroyed annually due to transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). There is a very high risk of TTIs through donated blood to recipients if safe transfusion practices are not observed. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Arua regional blood bank, Uganda.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective cross-sectional design that involved a review of a random sample of 1370 blood donors registered between January 1st, 2018 and December 31st, 2019 at Arua regional blood bank, Uganda. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the blood donors. The binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with TTIs.

RESULTS

The majority of the blood donors were male (80.1%), and the median donor age was 23 years (IQR = 8 years). The overall prevalence of TTIs was found to be 13.8% (95%CI: 12.0-15.6%), with specific prevalences of 1.9% for HIV, 4.1% for HBV, 6.6% for HCV and 2.8% for treponema pallidum. Male sex (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.32-3.36, p-value = 0.002) and lapsed donor type compared to new donor type (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.13-0.87, p-value = 0.025) were found to be associated with TTIs.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of TTIs among blood donors of West Nile region, Uganda was found to be significantly high, which implies a high burden of TTIs in the general population. Hence, there is need to implement a more stringent donor screening process to ensure selection of risk-free donors, with extra emphasis on male and new blood donors. Additionally, sensitization of blood donors on risky behaviors and self-deferral will reduce the risk of donating infected blood to the recipients.

Prevalence and factors associated with transfusion-transmissible infections (HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis) among blood donors in Gabon: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) remain a major public health problem in countries with limited resources, particularly in Gabon. Complete information on the prevalence in Gabon of the main TTIs among blood donors is still lacking in the national context. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Gabon.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis was reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It was the result of data from several comprehensive studies published between 2014 and 2022, the purpose of which focused on the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Gabon. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. The overall prevalence of TTIs among blood donors was determined using the random effects model. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plot and Egger's statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 175,140 blood donors from the nine eligible studies were admitted to this study. The combined prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis obtained in the random effects model was 3.0%, 6.0%, 4.0% and 3.0%, respectively. Moreover, being a male blood donor and aged between 25 and 44 years was significantly associated with HBV infection and being a female blood donor and aged 35 years and over was significantly associated with HIV infection. Family or replacement blood donors had a high infection burden for all four TTIs of study.

CONCLUSION

The overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections remains high in the country's blood banks. Improving current prevention (selection criteria) and screening strategies may be necessary in a global approach.

Causes of pre and post-donation deferrals among blood donors, at Kwale Satellite Blood Transfusion Center, Kwale County, Kenya, 2018-2022

BACKGROUND

Both pre-donation and post-donation deferrals pose challenges to blood safety and availability. This study delved into the deferral rates before donations and their underlying reasons, as, transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) leading to post-donation deferrals among potential blood donors at the Kwale Satellite Blood Transfusion Centre (KSBTC) in Kenya.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective electronic record review of pre- and post-donation deferrals among blood donors at KSBTC, 2018-2022. The pre-donations deferral rate and reasons for deferral were analyzed. Accepted donations were analyzed to determine the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and syphilis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and both crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Variables with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A review was conducted on 12,633 blood donation records. Among these, individuals 2,729/12,633 (21.60%) were deferred from donating with the primary reason being low hemoglobin levels, constituting 51.86% of deferrals. Around 773/9,904 (7.80%) of blood units, were discarded due to at least one TTI. Among these, HBV accounted for 4.73%, HIV for 2.01%, HCV for 1.21%, and Syphilis for 0.59% of cases. The adjusted odds ratio for male donors were, (aOR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.01-1.57), donors with none or primary education level (aOR = 1.4 95% CI 1.11-1.68), first-timer donors (aOR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.01-1.44), and static strategy for blood collection (aOR = 1.4, 95%CI 1.12-1.63) were independently potentially associated with testing positive for at least one TTI.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates that TTIs continue to pose a risk to the safety of Kenya's bloodstock, with a notable prevalence of HBV infections. Male donors, individuals with limited education, first-time donors, and utilizing a fixed strategy for blood collection were identified as potential risk factors independently associated with TTIs.

Exploring the determinants of risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors in Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar

INTRODUCTION

Blood donation is vital to healthcare, but it must be kept safe by mitigating the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors at Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar.

METHODS

This study utilized a cross-sectional study design using secondary data. Mandalay city and Mandalay Blood Bank in Mandalay General Hospital were purposely selected and a total of 406 first-time blood donors participated. A structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer was used. The questionnaire contained background characteristics, knowledge on TTIs, attitude toward TTIs, and TTIs risk behaviors. To examine the determinants (background characteristics, knowledge, and attitude) that affect risk behavior, inferential statistics techniques that included the chi-squared test, bivariable logistic regression, and multivariable logistic regression were applied. A p-value of less than 0.05 signified statistical significance.

RESULTS

Among 406 first-time blood donors, 52.9% were under 20 years old, and 53.7% were male. Most had undergraduate education (77.6%), were married (84.2%), and were students (55.7%). Additionally, 76.8% hadn't received the hepatitis B vaccine. Blood groups were distributed as follows: B (40.0%), O (33.8%), A (23.4%), AB (8.9%). About 15.8% showed high knowledge level, and 63.6% had high attitude. Notably, 29.3% exhibited high-risk behavior for TTIs. Age was associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.99, 2.38, p = 0.049), but lost significance in multivariable regression (p = 0.214). Knowledge on TTIs didn't show significance. However, high attitudes were significantly associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 11.4, 95% CI: 1.25, 103.83, p = 0.017, retained in multivariable regression, p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

Findings of this study contribute in the development of programs that ensure a safe and reliable blood supply chain. To improve blood safety standards among first-time blood donors, this study highlights the value of targeted education and screening processes, placing particular emphasis on acquiring knowledge and positive attitude toward blood donation and risk behavior.

COVID-19 impact on blood donor characteristics and seroprevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections in southern Thailand between 2018 and 2022

Blood safety is a critical aspect of healthcare systems worldwide involving rigorous screening, testing, and processing protocols to minimize the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). The present study offers a comprehensive assessment of the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis among blood donors in southern Thailand. It explores the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the blood transfusion service, donor characteristics, and the prevalence of TTIs. A retrospective analysis of 65,511 blood donors between 2018 and 2022 was conducted at Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand. The socio-demographic characteristics of the donors were examined using the Chi-square test to assess the relationship between TTIs serological positivity and donor characteristics. The donors were divided into pre-COVID-19 (2018-2019) and during COVID-19 (2020-2022) groups to evaluate the impacts of COVID-19. The study found that HBV had the highest overall prevalence at 243 per hundred thousand (pht), followed by syphilis (118 pht), HCV (32 pht), and HIV (31 pht) over a five-year period of study. After COVID-19, the prevalence of HBV decreased by 21.8%; HCV decreased by 2.1%; HIV increased by 36.4%; and syphilis increased by 9.2%. The socio-demographic characteristics and TTIs prevalence were significantly altered over time. This study provides insights into blood donor characteristics and TTIs prevalence in southern Thailand, highlighting the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the spread of TTIs.

Transfusion transmitted infections among blood donors of Kamenge Teaching Hospital blood bank in Burundi

BACKGROUND

The current risk of contracting a transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) is unknown in Burundi.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess sociodemographic profiles of blood bank donors at Kamenge Teaching Hospital, the prevalence and associated risk factors of HIV, syphilis, HBV and HCV from 2015 to 2020.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study including all blood donors of Kamenge Teaching Hospital blood bank. During this study, 1370 blood samples were screened for HIV, Syphilis, HBV and HCV. We calculated prevalence of TTIs and performed logistic regression to know associated risk factors.

RESULTS

Blood donors were males at 77% and 23% females. They were mostly students (54.2%). On screening, 83 blood samples (6.06%) were seropositive for at least one TTI. The overall prevalence rate of HIV, Syphilis, HBV and HCV among blood donors was 1.3%, 0.2% ,1.6%, 2.9% respectively. There was difference in distribution of the four TTIs among blood donors which is statistically significant (x2=33.997, ϱ-value<0.001). Private donors were associated with a high risk of syphilis and being a first-time donor was associated with a high HBV risk factor.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of TTIs found still to be high; mandatory and continuous screening is necessary.

Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Among Blood Donors in a Regional Hospital in Ghana: A 6-Year Trend Analysis (2017-2022)

BACKGROUND

This study determined the trends of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) among blood donors in a regional hospital in Ghana from 2017 to 2022.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 6339 blood donor records. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17.0 at the 0.05 significance level.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TTIs was 31.4% in 2017, 13.8% in 2018, 20.4% in 2019, 9.5% in 2020, 9.6% in 2021, and 11.7% in 2022. There were significant associations between hepatitis C virus (HCV), Syphilis, and sex (OR = 2.06; 95% CI [1.29-3.30]; P = .003) and (OR = 2.28; 95% CI [1.48-3.54]; P < .001), respectively. Blood donors aged 20-29 were more likely to be infected with hepatitis B virus (OR = 1.96; 95% CI [1.28-2.99]; P = .002). Blood donors aged 40-49 had higher odds of infection with HCV (OR = 3.36; 95% CI [2.02-5.57]; P < .001) and Syphilis (OR = 3.79; 95% CI [2.45-5.87]; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the need to implement targeted prevention strategies for donors with a higher TTI prevalence.

Patient Blood Management and Its Role in Supporting Blood Supply

Blood donors and voluntary blood donations are essential for ensuring the blood supply that can be maintained by good patient blood management (PBM) practices. This review article explores the role of blood donation in PBM and highlights the importance of donor screening and selection processes in different regions worldwide. The donor health questionnaires and the focused physical examination guidelines have changed in the last decade to increase donor and recipient safety. This article also discusses the status of transfusion practices, including the challenges of ensuring a safe blood supply. Significant among these are the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the blood supply chain and the impact of an aging donor population, especially. Promoting autologous donations and other blood conservation strategies are suggested to mitigate these issues. The role of replacement donors and the upper age limit for voluntary blood donation may be decided based on the demography and donor pool. The involvement of C-suite executives is also critical in implementing and running a successful PBM program. The review highlights how these different aspects of blood donation are integral to a successful PBM program and the safety of patients who receive blood transfusions.

Transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in Ghana: A 3-year multicentered health facility-based retrospective study

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) remain a major health challenge particularly in developing countries. Here, we present a multicentered hospital-based retrospective study on the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors of TTIs in Ghana. Data on blood donors from four health facilities, namely Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital (Oti region), Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital (Greater Accra region), SDA Hospital (Northern region) and Wa Municipal Hospital (Upper West region) were extracted and analyzed. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were applied to compare sociodemographic data with TTI status. A total of 6094 blood donors were included in this study, and 2% were females. The overall prevalence of TTIs was 21.0% (1232/5868). Specifically, the prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and Syphilis was 6.6% (385/5868), 4.9% (286/5830), 2.9% (168/5867), and 6.8% (393/5739), respectively. Wa dominated in all the viral agents considered in this study, while the Oti region recorded the highest prevalence in T. pallidum. The odds of HBV infection was 3.1 (p = 0.008) among first-time donors, while that for HCV was 2.8 (p = 0.042). For rural dwellers, donors significantly had T. pallidum (p < 0.001; OR = 2.8), HCV (p < 0.001; OR = 2.9), and HIV (p = 0.028; OR = 1.5) infections. Generally, the recipients of transfused blood were predominantly pregnant mothers, followed by children and accident victims. This study has revealed significant disparities and relatively high prevalence of TTIs in Ghana, specifically HBV, HCV, HIV and T. pallidum infections. The variations suggest the presence of unique health challenges per study area, hence the need for a tailored intervention for each study site.

Systematic review of prevalence and risk factors of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors, and blood safety improvements in Southern Africa

Blood and blood products are listed as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to inadequate supply, most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) nations fail to meet their blood needs because many donated blood units are discarded because they are contaminated with transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). We sought to estimate the prevalence of TTIs, identify the risk factors for TTIs among blood donors, and identify the efforts and interventions that have been made to improve blood safety in Southern African nations, particularly the nations of the South African Development Community (SADC). We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for TTIs, blood safety interventions, and blood quality improvement in the SADC region from major PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and HINARI databases from 1 January 2011 to 31 April 2021. All investigations followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). In meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled TTIs prevalence and summarised the same using forest plots. A total of 180 articles published from the SSA region were identified covering our three targeted themes: TTI prevalence, risk factors for TTIs, and blood safety improvements. Of these 180 articles, only 27 (15%) focused on the SADC region. The overall pooled TTI prevalence estimate was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0-3.0) and hepatitis B was the most prevalent TTI in the region (prevalence = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0-5.0). The prevalence of HIV, HCV, and syphilis was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0-4.0), 1.0% (95% CI: 0.0-2.0), and 2.0% (95% CI: 0.0-8.0), respectively. In general, replacement donors and first-time donors were more likely to be infected with TTIs than repeat donors. Twelve articles explored blood safety research in the region; however, they vary greatly highlighting the need for consistent and more comprehensive research. Few publications were identified that were from the SADC region, indicating lack of research or resources towards improving both quantity and quality of blood donation. TTI prevalence remains one of the highest in the world and blood safety recommendations vary across the region. More effort should be directed towards developing a cohesive regional blood transfusion policy and effective blood monitoring and evaluation strategies.

HIV Prevalence among Injury Patients Compared to Other High-Risk Groups in Tanzania

Sixty-eight percent of persons infected with HIV live in Africa, but as few as 67% of those know their infection status. The emergency department (ED) might be a critical access point to HIV testing. This study sought to measure and compare HIV prevalence in an ED injury population with other clinical and nonclinical populations across Tanzania. Adults (≥18 years) presenting to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center ED with acute injury of any severity were enrolled in a trauma registry. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to compare HIV prevalence in the trauma registry with other population groups. Further, 759 injury patients were enrolled in the registry; 78.6% were men and 68.2% consented to HIV counseling and testing. The HIV prevalence was 5.02% (tested), 6.25% (self-report), and 5.31% (both). The systematic review identified 79 eligible studies reporting HIV prevalence (tested) in 33 clinical and 12 nonclinical population groups. Notable groups included ED injury patients (3.53%, 95% CI), multiple injury patients (10.67%, 95% CI), and people who inject drugs (17.43%, 95% CI). These findings suggest that ED injury patients might be at higher HIV risk compared to the general population, and the ED is a potential avenue to increasing HIV testing among young adults, particularly men.

Exploring the unseen effect of COVID 19 pandemic on blood transfusion services in a tertiary care centre

Background

The coronavirus pandemic confronted blood transfusion services with major challenges. The present study was conducted to explore the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood transfusion services including seroprevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections.

Material and Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted and data on blood donation, utilization, camps, plateletpheresis and seroprevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) was retrieved from software from March to September 2020 and 2021 and compared with corresponding time periods of three preceding non-pandemic years.

Results

There was a decline of 53.79% and 34.4% in blood donations in 2020 and 2021 respectively with a significant reduction in voluntary donations from 91.8% in the pre-pandemic period to 72.2% in 2020 and 77.7% in 2021. Replacement donors increased by 60.81% and 72.89% in 2020 and 2021 respectively. There was a decline of 48.4% in the number of plateletpheresis procedures in 2020 which increased in 2021 during the dengue outbreak. The decline in total blood donations and issue of packed red blood cells was statistically significant but supply and demand were balanced with no deficit. TTI seroprevalence increased from 1.01% to 1.49%(p<0.001) and 1.51%(p<0.001) in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Replacement donors showed a significantly higher TTI prevalence as compared to voluntary donors(p<0.001). A significant increase in prevalence was observed for Syphilis (0.4%) in 2020 and HBsAg (0.54%), HCV(0.63%) and syphilis (0.25%) in 2021.

Conclusion

The potential consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood safety cannot be undermined. Developing a strong database of regular voluntary donors can be instrumental in dealing with future waves and surges in infections.

Prevalence of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections (HCV, HIV, Syphilis and Malaria) in Blood Donors: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study

Blood plays a major role in transmitting infectious diseases such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), syphilis, malaria, and many others. Thus, this study sought to evaluate the distribution of HCV, HIV, syphilis, and malaria among blood donors in Yemen. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted on blood donors at the national center in Yemen. Blood donors’ specimens were serologically tested for the presence of anti-HCV and anti-HIV antibodies, as well as anti-Treponema pallidum, anti-Plasmodium falciparum, and anti-Plasmodium vivax. A total of 16,367 donors were included in this study. Based on the donor’s occupation, the study showed that the relative seroprevalence of anti-HCV Ab among the donors was statistically significant, and relatively high prevalence was found among military donors (2.8%). Positive HIV antibody tests were only reported in 33 male donors (0.2%), who were mostly manual workers. A remarkably high prevalence of anti-Treponema pallidum was observed among manual workers (3.1%). There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of anti-malaria Ab based on residency and age groups. This study revealed that the prevalence of HCV, HIV, syphilis, and malaria among donors was 2.0%, 0.2%, 2.4%, and 0.7%, respectively. Further genotyping studies are necessary to provide a complete picture of the prevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs).

Seroprevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections and Associated Risk Factors in Hospitalized Patients before Transfusion in Jinling Hospital Nanjing University: A Three-Year Retrospective Study

Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and treponema pallidum (TP), must be detected before blood transfusion. However, few studies have been conducted on the prevalence and accuracy of positive results in hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the real seroprevalence of TTIs among patients before blood transfusion and analyze the characteristics of false-positive results in Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, China. TTI results were collected from medical records and analyzed retrospectively. Additionally, we also used confirmatory assays to verify the accuracy of positive results. The overall prevalence of TTI was 8.96%, which was related to gender and age. The real positive rates were 86.67% (HBV), 35.09% (HCV), 20.75% (HIV), and 100% (TP). Our results also showed that high-speed centrifugation can reduce the false-positive rate of HBsAg. In summary, the results demonstrated that the positive rates of TTIs in hospitalized patients are higher than those in the general population. We also confirmed the existence of false-positive results in serological screening for TTIs. The method of processing specimens through high-speed centrifugation could reduce the false-positive results of detecting antigens effectively.

Barriers and drivers of voluntary blood donation in northern and Western Tanzania

Introduction: Every second, someone in the world needs blood due to surgery, trauma, severe anemia or pregnancy complications. There is a shortage of blood for transfusion worldwide, with the heaviest burden faced by sub–Saharan Africa. In countries like Tanzania, the major source of blood is voluntary blood donation, making its supply one of the most challenging in the health care system. This study assessed the magnitude of the deficit of blood in blood banks, and explored views of key stakeholders on the need, availability and opportunities for improving blood donations in northern and Western Tanzania. Methods: This was an explanatory sequential mixed method study done in the Mpanda and Moshi districts in the Katavi and Kilimanjaro regions. A quantitative component involved a questionnaire survey with 253 community members from the two districts and 24 months blood bank records. The survey explored awareness and perceptions of voluntary blood donation. A qualitative component involved four focus group discussions with registered voluntary blood donors and health care providers from the National Blood Transfusion Service in the two districts. Results: Blood bank records indicated that more blood was collected in Katavi compared to the Kilimanjaro region. Only 26% of the survey respondents had ever donated blood in their lifetime, three quarters of these were from Mpanda district. There was no significant association between socio-demographic factors and likelihood of blood donation. However, being male, older (51 years and above), having higher household income and secondary school education were significantly associated with higher awareness of voluntary blood donation. Community sensitization, education, incentives and availability of blood donation centers near communities were among the most important factors listed to improve blood donation. Conclusions: Significant efforts need to be placed on sensitization and improving knowledge and awareness of voluntary blood donations in order to improve its uptake.

First Report from Afghanistan on the Prevalence of Blood-Borne Infections: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study for an Epidemiological Assessment

Background

The transfusion of blood and blood components has a significant role in healthcare services. However, it remains a possible risk factor for blood-borne infections. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of serological markers of common blood-borne infections among the blood donor population of Afghanistan.

Methodology

This was a cross-sectional study based on retrospectively collected data over a period of six years from 284 blood centres across 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Every blood donor’s sample was tested by rapid immunoassays for the serological markers of blood-borne infections namely hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency virus 1/2 (anti-HIV1/2), and anti-Treponema pallidum (anti-TP).

Results

All blood donors during the study period were males. The majority of blood donations were from the family replacement category 56.93% (n = 544,568). The overall pooled prevalence of blood-borne infections was 4.36% with a comparatively higher percentage in family replacement donors 4.88%. The seropositivity for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV1/2, and anti-TP was 2.95%, 0.81%, 0.04%, and 0.54%, respectively.

Conclusion

Complete reliance on voluntary blood donors and screening with quality assured highly sensitive assay is recommended to ensure blood safety in the country.

Transfusion Transmissible Infections in Blood Donors in the Province of Bié, Angola, during a 15-Year Follow-Up, Imply the Need for Pathogen Reduction Technologies

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs), caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunode-ficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis, have a high global impact, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We evaluated the trend of these infections over time in blood donors in Angola. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among blood donors in Angola from 2005 to 2020. Additionally, frozen samples obtained from blood donors in 2007 were investigated to identify chronic HCV carriers and possible occult HBV infection (OBI). The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis was 8.5, 3, 2.1, and 4.4%, respectively, among 57,979 blood donors. HBV was predominant among male donors, while the remaining TTIs were predominant among women. Donors >50 years had a significantly high prevalence for all TTIs. Chronic HCV infection was ab-sent in 500 samples tested and OBI was present in 3%. Our results show the continued high prev-alence of TTIs among blood donors in Angola. Most infections showed a significantly low preva-lence in years with campaigns seeking voluntary blood donors, thus, reinforcing the importance of this type of donor to ensure safe blood. Africa, with a high prevalence of diverse pathogens, should consider cost-effective pathogen reduction technologies, once they are commercially accessible, to increase the availability of safe blood.