Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections in blood donors: a three year experience

Objective: To determine seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections [TTIs] in blood donors and to compare the present results with the data from studies conducted in past

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion [AFIT], Rawalpindi from January 2010 to December 2012

Material and Methods: All the blood donors who had donated blood at AFIT during the three year study period were included. Prior to blood donation at the institute, all the donors were subjected to a preset, structured questionnaire to determine their eligibility for donation as per the criteria set by the institute. Donors7 serum samples were screened for hepatitis B virus [HBV], hepatitis C virus [HCV], human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and syphilis by using HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV antigen-antibody combination assay and syphilis antibody test, respectively. The repeatedly reactive samples were considered as true reactive

Results: A total 160552 blood donors were screened during the study period. The mean age of the donors was 29 ++/- 10.2 years [Range: 18 - 60 years]. Out of these, 158144 [98.5%] were male donors and 2408 [1.5%] were female donors. 7385 [4.6%] donors were volunteer and 153167 [95.4%] donors the replacement donors. The seroprevalence of TTIs in the donors for HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis was 2385 [1.48%], 4194 [2.61%] 26 [0.02%] and 1520 [0.95%], respectively. The seroprevalence of HBV was higher and statistically significant [p value<0.05] in Gp-II [31-45 years] and the seroprevalence of both HCV and Syphilis was higher and statistically significant [p value <0.05] in both GP-II [31-45 years] and GP-III [46 years and above] when compared with overall seroprevalence of the respective infections in all age groups

Conclusion: This study highlights that the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV is decreasing in our blood donors, but still it is an important risk factor for spread of these infections. The seroprevalence of HIV is rising gradually in the blood donors

Seroprevalence of human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1/2 in blood donors in Northern Pakistan: implications for blood donor screening

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus-1/2 [HTLV-1/2] in blood donors in Northern Pakistan

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion, Rawalpindi, from July to August 2013

Methodology: A total of 2100 blood donors were screened for anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies during the study period, in a pool of six, on a highly sensitive, Chemiluminiscent Microparticle Immunoassay [CMIA] based system. The screening testreactive donors were recalled, counseled and interviewed, and a fresh sample was obtained for confirmatory testing. Confirmation was performed using additional immunoassays including Line Immunoassay [LIA]; with additional testing for HTLV-1 pvDNA PCR. Frequency and percentages were determined

Results: Four donors [0.19%] were repeatedly screening test-reactive and were subsequently confirmed to be HTLV-1 infected by line immunoassay and HTLV-1 pvDNA PCR. All four donors were male with mean age of 27 +/- 6.27 years. Two [50%] of the positive donors gave history of Multiple Sexual Partners [MSP]

Conclusion: HTLV-1 seroprevalence in Northern Pakistan blood donors was determined to be 0.19%. Large scale studies, including the cost effectiveness of screening blood donations for anti-HTLV-1/2 in Pakistan, are recommended

Frequency of anti Hepatitis C Virus antibodies amongst sanitary workers in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

To determine the frequency of anti Hepatitis C Virus antibodies in sanitary workers at Military Hospital Rawalpindi and to identify additional risk factors in them for hepatitis C infection. Cross sectional study. Department of medicine Military Hospital [M.H.], Rawalpindi Pakistan over six months. All sanitary workers working at Military Hospital Rawalpindi were tested for anti HCV antibodies by third generation ELISA six percent of the study population was found to be positive for anti HCV antibodies. The frequency of anti HCV antibodies is fairly high in sanitary workers working in this tertiary care hospital studied. HCV infection is more frequent in those sanitary workers who have longer duration of service

Status of hospital infection control measures at seven major tertiary care hospitals of northern Punjab

To determine the availability and implementation of various hospital infection control measures at tertiary care hospitals. Survery. National Institute of Science and Technology, Islamabad, from June through August 2008. Seven tertiary care very busy hospitals were selected; one from Islamabad, 5 from Rawalpindi, and one from Lahore. A detailed proforma was designed addressing all the issues pertaining to hospital infection control measures. Air sampling was done and growth yielded was identified by standard methods. Analyses revealed that all of the hospitals had an Infection Control Committee. Microbiological diagnostic facilities were adequate at all the hospitals and overall microorganism yield was very high. Antibiotic policy was claimed by most, not available on ground. Majority of the operation theatres were without proper air flow system and autoclaves were not being regularly monitored. There was no proper disposal for sharps and needles. Incineration was not the usual mode for infectious waste. The results of the present study imply availability of proper hospital infection control policies with need of strict implementation of such measures

Hepatitis B viral load in various categories of chronic hepatitis B carriers

To determine serum hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA levels by Real-time Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] in different categories of treatment-naive patients with chronic HBV infection in context with Hepatitis B serology and serum Alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels. Cross-sectional study. A total of 122 chronic hepatitis B carriers, including 79 low grade carriers [Anti-HBe positive HBeAg negative], 40 high grade carriers [HBeAg positive, Anti-HBe negative] and 3 intermediate grade carriers [Both HBeAg and Anti-HBe negative] were evaluated for HBV DNA levels and serum ALT levels. The serum HBV DNA levels of the low grade carriers with normal ALT levels [<40 IU/L] were significantly lower than the low-grade carriers with raised ALT levels [mean viral load 3x10[3] vs. 1.6x10[6] copies/mL; p=0.0003]. The HBV DNA levels of the high grade carriers were significantly higher than those of the low grade carriers with normal ALT levels [mean viral load 6.4x10[7]vs. 3x10[3] copies/mL; p=0.0007] and than those of low grade carriers with raised ALT levels [mean viral load 6.4x10[7] vs. 1.6x10[6] copies/ mL; p=0.03]. The results show that HBV DNA levels vary in different categories of chronic hepatitis B carriers and when evaluated by a sensitive quantitative PCR assay the HBV DNA levels can be used for differentiation between HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and inactive hepatitis B surface antigen carrier state