Sécurité transfusionnelle infectieuse pendant la pandémie à COVID-19: Evaluation de quelques marqueurs sérologiques au centre hospitalier et universitaire de Yaoundé, Cameroun / Infectious transfusion safety during the COVID-19 pandemic: evaluation of some serological markers at the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon

Objectif. Mettre à jour les données sur la prévalence des infections transmissibles par transfusion en contexte de pandémie à coronavirus est très important pour la sécurité transfusionnelle dans notre milieu. Méthodes. Une étude transversale prospective a été menée du 05 avril au 02 mai 2021 au Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Yaoundé. Les donneurs de sang ont été inclus consécutivement après un entretien médical et dépistés pour les infections du Virus de l'Immunodéficience Humaine, du virus de l'hépatite B, du virus de l'hépatite C et du Treponema pallidum. L'analyse statistique a été faite à l'aide du logiciel SPSS version 23.0 avec pour seuil de significativité p<0,05. Résultats. Au total, 32/232 donneurs (13,8 %) avaient au moins une infection transmissible par transfusion. Les prévalences étaient de 7,8 %, 5,6 %, 0,9 % et 0,9 % respectivement pour l'infection à Virus de l'Immunodéficience Humaine, Virus de l'hépatite B, Virus de l'hépatite C et Treponema pallidum. La régression logistique binaire concernant le Virus de l'Immunodéficience Humaine a montré que le sexe masculin et le groupe sanguin AB étaient significativement associés à cette infection. Aucune association n'a été retrouvée pour les autres infections. Conclusion. Avec le contexte difficile lié à la pandémie à coronavirus, la prévalence cumulée des infections transmissibles par transfusion est restée relativement élevée. Une bonne sélection médicale des donneurs reste la clé pour permettre la sécurité transfusionnelle.

Objective. Updating data on the prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections in the context of the coronavirus pandemic is very important for blood safety in our environment. Method. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 05 to May 02, 2021 at the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital. Blood donors were included consecutively after a medical interview and screened for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and Treponema pallidum infections. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0 software with the significance level p<0.05. Results. In total, 32/232 donors (13.8%) had at least one transfusion-transmissible infection. The prevalences were 7.8%, 5.6%, 0.9% and 0.9% respectively for infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Treponema pallidum. Binary logistic regression for Human Immunodeficiency Virus showed that male sex and AB blood group were significantly associated with this infection. No association was found for the other infections. Conclusion. With the difficult context linked to the coronavirus pandemic, the cumulative prevalence of infections transmissible by transfusion has remained relatively high. A good medical selection of donors remains the key to allow transfusion safety.

Whole blood pathogen reduction technology and blood safety in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review with regional discussion

Background: Despite vast improvements in transfusion services in sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade, there remain serious concerns on the safety and adequacy of the blood supply across the region. Objective: This review paper ascertains the role of pathogen reduction technology (PRT) in improving blood safety and supply adequacy in the region. Method: The state of blood safety in sub-Saharan Africa was reviewed. Meetings, seminars and correspondence were undertaken with key clinicians, scientists and professional bodies in the region, including the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa, to examine the suitability of PRT for improving the safety of whole blood transfusion, a prevalent transfusion format in the region. Results: Existing literature suggests that combining PRT with current blood safety measures(such as serology) would improve the safety and adequacy of the blood supply for transfusions in sub-Saharan Africa. This was echoed by the findings of the stakeholder meetings. Conclusion: Following a detailed appraisal of two leading PRT systems, the Mirasol® PRT System and the Cerus S-303 System, we suggest that companies conduct comprehensive toxicological evaluation of the agents used for PRT and publish this in the scientific literature. We also recommend that the safety and efficacy of these technologies should be established in a randomised clinical trial conducted in sub-Saharan Africa