Seroprevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV) among prospective blood donors in a tertiary health care facility in Calabar, Nigeria; an eleven years evaluation

Abstract

BackgroundProvision of constant and safe blood has been a public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). This study was aimed at determining the trend and seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV across the years within study among prospective blood donors at blood bank in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria.MethodsA retrospective analysis of blood donor data from January 2005 to December 2016 was conducted in Blood Bank/Donor Clinic of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and Treponema pallidum using commercially available immunochromatic based kits.ResultsOut of the 24,979 screened prospective donors in the 2005–2016 study period, 3739 (14.96%) were infected with at least one infective agent. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were 4.1, 3.6, 3.1 and 4.2%, respectively. During the period of study, the percentage of all transfusion-transmissible infections declined significantly with remarkable decline in HIV. The study showed male dominated donor pool (98.7%) with higher prevalence (4.2%) of transfusion-transmissible infections than in female donors (0.0%). Commercial donors constituted majority (62.0%) of the donors and as well had the highest prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections. Majority (62.9%) of the donors were repeat donors.ConclusionHBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV have remained a big threat to safe blood transfusion in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa at large. Strict adherence to selection criteria and algorithm of donor screening are recommended.

Transfusion-Transmissible Infections among Voluntary Blood Donors at Debre Tabor Blood Bank, North West Ethiopia: A Three Years Retrospective Study

“…The finding was comparable with studies done in Ethiopian and sub-Saharan Africa [14][15][16] and this might be due to knowledge and attitude difference between the two sex, due to physiologic difference (menstruation cycle and birth related issues) that, females were less participate in voluntary blood donation. Despite the fact that males were more in the donor pool of this study, females were comparatively high when compared with female involvement in blood donation in other studies in Ethiopia and Nigeria [17,18]. This might be due to the fact that the present study comprised of voluntary donors while the other Ethiopian and Nigerian studies comprised of voluntary, replacement and commercial donors.…”

Prevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections in Donors and Utilization of Blood and Components in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…2% and 0.7% donors were tested positive for HBV and HCV respectively. Henshaw Uchechi Okoroiwu et al, [11] conducted a study in a total of 24,979 prospective donors over a period of 12 years from 2005 to 2016 and found that 3739 units (14.96%) were positive for at least one infective agent. 4.1% and 3.6% donors were positive for HBV and HCV respectively.…”

Blood Transfusion-Associated Infections in the Twenty-First Century: New Challenges

“…Prospectively screened donors from 2005 to 2016 in Nigeria showed 14. 96% were infected with at least one of the four TTI with overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, Syphilis, and HIV of 4.1, 3.6, 3.1, and 4.2%, respectively [24]. However, the rate of all TTI declined significantly over the years with a remarkable decline in HIV.…”