Trends in serological markers of transfusion transmissible infections in blood donations at the Bamenda Hospital-based Blood Service, Cameroon - 20/06/21

Doi : 10.1016/j.tracli.2021.05.011

Moses Samje ^a,⁎ , Victor N. Fondoh ^b, Georges Nguefack-Tsague ^c, Laure K.J. Kamalieuk ^d, Dora Mbanya ^a,^e, Edward L. Murphy ^f, Claude T. Tagny ^e
^a Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box: 39, Bambili, Cameroon
^b Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon
^c Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
^d Department of Biochemistry, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
^e Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon
^f University of California San Francisco and Blood System Research Institute, USA

^⁎Corresponding author.

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Abstract

Objectives

The rate and trend of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) in blood donations from 2012 to 2017 at the Bamenda Regional Hospital Blood Service (BRHBS), Cameroon was assessed.

Materials and methods

A six-year retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the records of donors. Blood was screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Differences in seropositivity rates for the four TTIs were analyzed using Chi² test or Fisher's exact test where appropriate. Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the TTIs markers were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 12,115 blood donations was included in the study and of these, the overall seropositivity rate of the four conventional TTIs markers was 10.5% (n=1,273). Of the seropositive cases, 23.8% (n=303) showed reactivity with at least two of the markers combined. When the markers were assessed individually, HBsAg recorded the highest seropositivity rate (4.7%), followed by anti-HIV and anti-syphilis (2.2%), and then by anti-HCV (1.7%). A significant decrease in the trend of the combined serological markers, HBsAg and anti-syphilis was observed over the years (P≤0.05).

Conclusion

There is a decrease in seropositivity rates of TTIs markers in this blood service. Ongoing efforts toward the prevention of these infections is encouraged and should be intensified to improve blood safety.

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Keywords : Sero-positivity, Transfusion transmissible infections, Blood donation, Cameroon