Syphilis Burden: An Extensive Study, Evaluating Transfusion Transmitted Syphilis And Other Co-Infections Among Blood Donors
Syphilis Burden
Keywords:
Syphilis, Transfusion transmitted infections, Blood donors, seropositivityAbstract
Background: Syphilis is a chronic sexually infectious disease caused by the Spirochaete, Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum). T. pallidum can also be transmitted by transfusion of blood or blood components from donors. It is not the transmission of syphilis that is distressing, being a sexually transmitted disease, seropositivity signifies donor’s involvement in “high risk†behavior. The purpose of this study is to analyze the status of Transfusion transmitted Syphilis and other co-infections among seemingly healthy donors, targeting the non-remunerated blood donors (voluntary and replacement) during the period January, 2009- September, 2018. Material and Method: It is a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at Regional Blood Transfusion Bank Centre, C R Gardi Hospital and R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain. All the donated blood samples were screened for Syphilis using Syphilis Rapid Test. Data was analyzed. Result: Overall prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections was 2.26%. There was increased incidence among replacement donors. Prevalence of Syphilis was estimated at 0.69%. Age is an important risk factor. Syphilis is the second most common infection after HBV among blood donors. Conclusion: There is a fluctuating trend for seropositivity of syphilis, with a slight reduction in recent years. Overall syphilis prevalence is high in the study region. With the adaptation of strict donor selection criteria, use of sensitive screening tests and implementation of strict guidelines for blood transfusion it may be possible to reduce the prevalence of TTI [Jain P Natl J Integr Res Med, 2019; 10(1):31-35]
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