HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C, AND SYPHILIS PREVALENCE AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN RAWALPINDI CITY
Background:
The spread of infectious diseases through blood and blood products is a global health issue, especially in developing nations. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis are some of the most common infections that can be passed on through blood transfusions. The only way to decrease the transfusion-transmissible infections is the safe blood transfusion, which means blood should be properly screened before transfusion. The current study sought to ascertain the prevalence of HBS, HCV, and Syphilis among blood donors in Rawalpindi City, Pakistan.
Methodology:
A total of 385 voluntary blood donors were screened over a six-month period at Alkhidmat Raazi Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The obtained samples were analyzed serologically for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies, and anti-Treponema pallidum (the causative agent of syphilis) antibodies using the Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA) technique.
Results:
Our research studies revealed that the prevalence of HCV, HBV, and syphilis among blood donor volunteers was 4.1%, 4.1%, and 4.41%, respectively. Our research studies show that the seropositivity of HBV and HCV was higher in males, while the seropositivity of syphilis was higher in females. HBsAg rate was slightly higher in unmarried donors, but HCV and syphilis seropositivity rates were higher in married donors. The seropositivity of HBV and syphilis was slightly higher in donors whose age was below 35 years, and the seropositivity of HCV was higher in those donors whose age was greater than 35 years.
Conclusion:
We concluded that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and syphilis is significantly higher in blood donors. Additionally, our analysis indicates those low socioeconomic conditions, a lack of health education significantly contribute to the increased risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). To control the spread of these infections and ensure the safety of recipients, it is essential to enhance the procedures and practices related to blood donor selection. Furthermore, blood donors must undergo comprehensive screening for TTIs using accepted techniques.
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), chemiluminescent immunoassay (CMIA), Transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs).
