scholarly journals Increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in healthy blood donors after the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in South-Eastern Italy: evidence for asymptomatic young individuals as potential virus spreaders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
pierfrancesco Antonucci ◽  
jose Ramon fiore ◽  
lucia de feo ◽  
tommaso granato ◽  
mariantonirtta distefano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

Abstract: Background: Italy has been the first among western countries to experience SARS-CoV-2 spread during which the southern regions were also heavily affected by the pandemic. To understand and monitor properly the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic, population based seroprevalence studies are a valid tool for the infection rates and effective prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2. Aim: In this prospective study, we assessed the changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rates among non-vaccinated blood donors in South-Eastern Italy over May 2020 to March 2021. Methods: 8,183 healthy blood donors referring to the Transfusion Center at the University Hospital Riuniti of Foggia (Italy) for blood donation in the period May 2020-March 2021 were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics VITROS 3600. None of the considered subjects had a diagnosed symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Results: Overall, 516 resulted positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (6.3%, 95% CI, 0.03-0.15%), 387 (4.7%) were male and 129 (1.7%) female. A statistically significant increase in the seropositive population was found from May 2020 to March 2021 (Fisher's p<0.001). The difference of the seroprevalence was significant in terms of age but not sex (2-sided p<0.05 for age; 2-sided p>0.05 for sex) in both groups. Conclusion: Our study shows a significant increase in the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among blood donors and suggests a potential role of asymptomatic individuals in continuing the spread of the pandemic. These results may contribute to establishing containment measures and priorities in vaccine campaigns.

scholarly journals The Epidemiology of Syphilis in the Volta Region of Ghana: A Five-Year Multisite Parallel Population-Based Analysis vis-à-vis the Sentinel Survey

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvester Yao Lokpo ◽  
Ellis Owusu-Dabo ◽  
John Gameli Deku ◽  
Verner Ndudiri Orish ◽  
Gideon Kye-Duodu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Syphilis Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Volta Region ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Background: Syphilis is contagious and one of the oldest sexually transmitted infections, with great public health consequences. This study aimed to comparatively describe the five–year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of syphilis infection using pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and apparently healthy blood donors as proxy for the general population at the four sentinel sites in the Volta Region of Ghana. Method: We analysed retrospectively data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged between 18 to 58 years and 7,805 pregnant women in a Sentinel Survey who fell within the 15 and 49 years age bracket at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu and Krachi-West sentinel sites in the Volta Region. Data extracted included age, gender, date of blood donation and Treponena pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. Published reports of Sentinel Surveys conducted at the four sentinel sites from the years 2013-2017 were retrieved. Results: The cumulative five-year prevalence of syphilis infections among the pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and prospective blood donors was 0.38% and 2.38% respectively. Site-specific prevalence for population-base/Sentinel survey was 4.6%/0.4%, 2.0%/0.2%, 1.3%/0.8 and 1.2%/0.2 for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi-West and Tongu respectively. New Syphilis infection rate was 0.31% in the sentinel survey and 2.22% in the general population. Significant gender disparity in syphilis infection exist with male preponderance. Conclusion: The regional prevalence of syphilis infection in the Sentinel Survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as proxy for population estimate could lead to underestimation of the burden in the study jurisdiction.

scholarly journals A comparative study of the epidemiology of Treponemal Infection in the Volta Region of Ghana: A Five-Year Multisite Parallel Population-Based Analysis vis-à-vis the Sentinel Survey

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvester Yao Lokpo ◽  
Ellis Owusu-Dabo ◽  
John Gameli Deku ◽  
Verner Ndudiri Orish ◽  
Gideon Kye-Duodu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Treponemal Infection ◽  
Volta Region ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Abstract Background: Treponemal infection is contagious and one of the oldest blood-borne infections, with great public health consequences. This study aimed to comparatively describe the five–year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of Treponemal infection using pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and apparently healthy blood donors as proxy for the general population at the four sentinel sites in the Volta Region of Ghana. Method: We analysed retrospectively data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged between 18 to 58 years and 7,805 pregnant women in a Sentinel Survey who fell within the 15 and 49 years age bracket at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu and Krachi-West sentinel sites in the Volta Region. Data extracted included age, gender, date of blood donation and Treponena pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. Published reports of Sentinel Surveys conducted at the four sentinel sites from the years 2013-2017 were retrieved. Results: The cumulative five-year prevalence of Treponemal infections among the pregnant women in the Sentinel Survey and prospective blood donors was 0.38% and 2.38% respectively. Site-specific prevalence for population-base/Sentinel survey was 4.6%/0.4%, 2.0%/0.2%, 1.3%/0.8 and 1.2%/0.2 for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi-West and Tongu respectively. Treponemal infection rates among the younger age groups (15-24years) were 0.31% in the sentinel survey and 2.22% in the general population. Significant gender disparity in Treponemal infection exist with male preponderance. Conclusion: The regional prevalence of Treponemal infection in the Sentinel Survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as proxy for population estimate could lead to underestimation of the burden in the study jurisdiction.

scholarly journals PREVALENCE OF IRREGULAR RED CELLANTIBODIES IN HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

2020 ◽  
pp. 50-51
Author(s):  
Keerthi C ◽  
Arun Rajendran ◽  
Suresh Babu B ◽  
Praveen D ◽  
Sandhya G ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Donors ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Blood Group System ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Screening And Identification ◽  
Compatible Blood ◽  
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Low Ionic Strength ◽  
Lewis Blood Group System

Introduction: Red cell antibodies that are found normally in human serum are considered naturally occurring and those are anti A and anti B. All other antibodies directed against RBC antigens are considered “unexpected or irregular". Aim: This study is aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the anti-red blood cell antibodies among healthy blood donors. Material and Methods: Antibody screening and identification was done using commercially available 3 cell and 11 cell reagent cells (0.8% Surgiscreen, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Limited, USA and Low ionic Strength Saline Ortho Bliss with AHG Cassettes) in antihuman globulin phase. Results: A total of 36,684 donors were screened for the presence of irregular erythrocyte antibodies. Among these donors, twenty donors showed presence of alloantibodies in their serum (0.054%). Most frequent alloantibodies identified were from Lewis blood group system. The results showed statistically a higher prevalence of RBC alloantibodies in males than in females. Conclusion: Screening for presence of alloantibodies in donor blood is important to provide compatible blood products and to avoid transfusion reactions.

scholarly journals Declining antibody levels to Trypanosoma cruzi correlate with polymerase chain reaction positivity and electrocardiographic changes in a retrospective cohort of untreated Brazilian blood donors

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. e0008787
Author(s):  
Lewis F. Buss ◽  
Léa Campos de Oliveira- da Silva ◽  
Carlos H. V. Moreira ◽  
Erika R. Manuli ◽  
Flavia C. Sales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Parasite Clearance ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Electrocardiographic Changes ◽  
Antibody Decline ◽  
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Antibody Levels

Background Although infection with Trypanosoma cruzi is thought to be lifelong, less than half of those infected develop cardiomyopathy, suggesting greater parasite control or even clearance. Antibody levels appear to correlate with T. cruzi (antigen) load. We test the association between a downwards antibody trajectory, PCR positivity and ECG alterations in untreated individuals with Chagas disease. Methodology/Principal findings This is a retrospective cohort of T. cruzi seropositive blood donors. Paired blood samples (index donation and follow-up) were tested using the VITROS Immunodiagnostic Products Anti-T.cruzi (Chagas) assay (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan NJ) and PCR performed on the follow-up sample. A 12-lead resting ECG was performed. Significant antibody decline was defined as a reduction of > 1 signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) unit on the VITROS assay. Follow-up S/CO of < 4 was defined as borderline/low. 276 untreated seropositive blood donors were included. The median (IQR) follow-up was 12.7 years (8.5–16.9). 56 (22.1%) subjects had a significant antibody decline and 35 (12.7%) had a low/borderline follow-up result. PCR positivity was lower in the falling (26.8% vs 52.8%, p = 0.001) and low/borderline (17.1% vs 51.9%, p < 0.001) antibody groups, as was the rate of ECG abnormalities. Falling and low/borderline antibody groups were predominantly composed of individuals with negative PCR and normal ECG findings: 64% and 71%, respectively. Conclusions/Significance Low and falling antibody levels define a phenotype of possible spontaneous parasite clearance.

scholarly journals Cancer Incidence and Mortality in a Cohort of US Blood Donors: A 20-Year Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farnaz Vahidnia ◽  
Nora V. Hirschler ◽  
Maria Agapova ◽  
Artina Chinn ◽  
Michael P. Busch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Cancer Incidence ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
California Cancer Registry ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Blood donors are considered one of the healthiest populations. This study describes the epidemiology of cancer in a cohort of blood donors up to 20 years after blood donation. Records from donors who participated in the Retroviral Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS, 1991–2002) at Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP), San Francisco, were linked to the California Cancer Registry (CCR, 1991–2010). Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were estimated using standard US 2000 population, and survival analysis used to compare all-cause mortality among donors and a random sample of nondonors with cancer from CCR. Of 55,158 eligible allogeneic blood donors followed-up for 863,902 person-years, 4,236 (7.7%) primary malignant cancers were diagnosed. SIR in donors was 1.59 (95% CI = 1.54,1.64). Donors had significantly lower mortality (adjusted HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.66–0.74) compared with nondonor cancer patients, except for respiratory system cancers (adjusted HR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.82–1.05). Elevated cancer incidence among blood donors may reflect higher diagnosis rates due to health seeking behavior and cancer screening in donors. A “healthy donor effect” on mortality following cancer diagnosis was demonstrated. This population-based database and sample repository of blood donors with long-term monitoring of cancer incidence provides the opportunity for future analyses of genetic and other biomarkers of cancer.

Evaluation of Nosocomial Infection Control Measures to Minimize the Risk of Aspergillus Dispersion During Major Demolition Work: A Case Study of a Japanese University Hospital

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672110099
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Nakanishi ◽  
Kei Kasahara ◽  
Akira Koizumi ◽  
Junko Tokutani ◽  
Shingo Yoshihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Horizontal Distance ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Air Intake ◽  
The Difference

Objectives: To verify the effectiveness of our infection control measures based on the infection control risk assessment (ICRA) to minimize the risk of Aspergillus dispersion before, during, and after demolition work in a university hospital. Background: It is widely accepted that invasive aspergillosis is associated with construction, renovation, and demolition activities within or close to hospital sites. However, the risk is underestimated, and only limited preventive measures are taken in Japanese hospitals. Method: The demolition process, carried out in July 2014, was supervised by our facility management in collaboration with the infection prevention team and followed an adapted ICRA tool. Dust containment measures were implemented to reduce the risk of airborne Aspergillus contamination. Air sampling was performed at four wards in the adjacent hospital buildings to assess the containment measures’ effectiveness. Results: A high, undetermined number of colonies of bacteria and molds were detected on all outside balconies before demolition. During demolition, Aspergillus spp. was detected only in the ward closest to the demolition site. However, no case of aspergillosis was reported. The difference-in-difference analysis revealed that the interaction between the demolition activity, height of the ward, and distance of the air intake to the demolition activities resulted in a significant increase in the numbers of Aspergillus spp. Conclusions: When large-scale demolition work occurs in hospital premises, Aspergillus spp. may increase in the ward where the vertical and horizontal distance of air intake from the demolition site is close, even though infection control measures based on the ICRA are implemented.

scholarly journals Potential risk of induced malaria by blood transfusion in South-eastern Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chigozie Jesse Uneke ◽  
Ogbonnaya Ogbu ◽  
Vincent Nwojiji
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Thick Film ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Significant Difference

Induced malaria by blood transfusion is a potential health hazard but is often neglected in many malaria endemic areas. Standard parasitological technique was used to determine the prevalence of malaria among blood donors in the South-eastern Nigeria. Of the total 325 blood donors (310 males and 15 females) screened, 133 (40.9%, CI 95%: 35.6-46.2%) were infected with malaria parasite, 78 (58.6%) had 1-10 parasites per 100 thick film fields ('+' or 4-40 parasites per mm3) while 55 (41.4%) had 11-100 parasites per 100 thick film fields ('++' or 41-400 parasites per mm3). P. falciparum was identified in all the infected cases, however 3 (2.3%) persons had mixed infection with P. malariae. Males were more infected (41.3%, CI 95%: 35.8-46.8%) than females (33.3%, CI 95%: 9.4-57.2%). The infection decreased with age with highest prevalence of 48.5% among those aged 20-25 years. The infection significantly varied with age but not with sex (P<0.05). Individuals with blood group B were slightly more infected (42.1%, 95%CI., 19.6-64.6%) than those of groups O (41.0%,CI 95%: 35.3-46.7%) and A (40.0%, CI 95%: 20.8-59.2%) but there was no significant difference (P < 0.05). Highest prevalence of infection was recorded in the month of April corresponding to the onset of the wet season. An overhaul of existing blood donation policies in many health facilities in the sub-Saharan Africa to incorporate malaria screening is advocated. Curative antimalarial drugs followed by prophylactic drugs should be given to all recipients of Parasitized blood.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Delhi, India: September October 2021: a population based seroepidemiological study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pragya Sharma ◽  
Saurav Basu ◽  
Suruchi Mishra ◽  
Ekta Gupta ◽  
Reshu Aggarwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

Background We conducted a repeat serosurvey in Delhi, India to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the general population and compare the antibody prevalence in the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. Methods This cross sectional study was conducted from September 24 to October 14 2021 in 280 wards of Delhi among 27811 participants selected through a multistage sampling technique with housing settlement based stratification. The SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies were screened with the VITROS (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA) assay (90% sensitivity, 100% specificity). Results A total of 24895 (89.5%) samples were seropositive. The crude seroprevalence was 87.99% (95% CI 89.1, 89.8), weighted for age and sex was 88% (95% CI 87.6, 88.4), and after adjustment of assay performance was estimated as 97.5% (95% CI 97.0, 98.0). The weighted seroprevalence in the 11 districts ranged from 84.9% (South-West district) to 90.8% (East district) Females in all the age-groups (<18, 18-49 and ≥50) had significantly higher odds of seropositivity (p<0.001). On adjusted analysis, the odds of seroconversion in the participants vaccinated with at-least one dose of either Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield/Covaxin) was more than four times compared to the unvaccinated (aRR 4.2 (3.8, 4.6)). The seroprevalence was also comparable among the complete and partially vaccinated subgroups for both vaccines (Table 4). Most (86.8%) seropositive individuals had a SARS-CoV-2 signal/cut-off ≥4.0 except in children Conclusions We observed IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in most of the general population of Delhi with likely higher antibody titers in the vaccinated compared to the unvaccinated groups.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of the Epidemiology of Treponemal Infection in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana: A Five-Year Multisite Parallel Population-Based Analysis vis-à-vis the Sentinel Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sylvester Yao Lokpo ◽  
Ellis Owusu-Dabo ◽  
John Gameli Deku ◽  
Verner Ndudiri Orish ◽  
Gideon Kye-Duodu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Treponemal Infection

Treponemal infections can be blood-borne with great public health consequences. This study is aimed at comparatively describing the five-year (2013-2017) regional epidemiology of treponemal infection using pregnant women in the sentinel survey and apparently healthy blood donors as a proxy for the general population at four sentinel sites in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana. We analyzed retrospective data from 17,744 prospective blood donors aged 18 to 58 years and 7,817 pregnant women in a sentinel survey with ages from 15 to 49 years at Hohoe, Ho, Tongu, and Krachi West sentinel sites in the Volta and Oti Regions. Laboratory data extracted include variables such as age, gender, date of blood donation, and Treponema pallidum chromatographic immunoassay results from the blood banks of the four study sites. The five-year treponemal infection rate among the pregnant women in the sentinel survey and prospective blood donors was 0.79% and 2.38%, respectively. Site-specific infection rate for population-based/sentinel survey was 4.6%/1.1%, 2.0%/0.5%, 1.3%/1.1, and 1.2%/0.3% for Hohoe, Ho, Krachi West, and Tongu, respectively. Significant gender disparity in Treponemal infection rate exists with a male preponderance. The regional infection rate in the sentinel survey is lower compared to the general population. Therefore, the use of pregnant women as a proxy for population estimates could underestimate the burden in the study jurisdiction.

scholarly journals HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV 1/2 and syphilis seroprevalence in healthy volunteer blood donors in southeastern Anatolia

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (09) ◽  
pp. 665-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saim Dayan ◽  
Alicem Tekin ◽  
Recep Tekin ◽  
Tuba Dal ◽  
Salih Hoşoğlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Volunteer ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Blood Donation ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Virus Surface ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Syphilis Screening ◽  
Anti Hiv ◽  
Hiv 1

Introduction: This study investigated the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), antibody against human immunodeficiency virus type 1/2 (anti-HIV 1/2), and antibody against Treponema pallidum (anti-Treponemal or syphilis antibody) in healthy volunteer blood donors, and assessed their distribution according to the years and genders. Methodology: HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV ½, and syphilis screening results of a total of 266,035 healthy volunteer blood donors who had been admitted for blood donation to the Regional Blood Center of Dicle University Hospital between January 2000 and December 2010 were evaluated, retrospectively. HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV 1/2 screening were performed using a fully automated device with the microparticle enzyme immunoassay method (MEIA). Syphilis screening was performed by Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) carbon test between January 2000 and December 2009, and by using a fully automated device with the MEIA method between January 2010 and December 2010. Results: Of 266,035 healthy volunteer blood donors, 259,384 (97.5%) were male and 6,651 (2.5%) were female. Statistically, there was not any significant difference between male and female genders for HBsAg, anti-HCV and syphilis seropositivities (P = 0.729, P = 0.748, and P = 0.861, respectively). HBsAg was found to be positive in 8,422 (3.17%), anti-HCV in 1,703 (0.64%), anti-HIV 1/2 in one (0.0004%) of 266,035 healthy volunteer blood donors, and syphilis antibody with RPR in 166 (0.07%) of 246,341 healthy volunteer blood donors. Conclusion: Blood donor forms should be carefully tailored to improve the identification of possible risks of transfusion-transmitted infections.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document