Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2011 Volume 139, Issue 3-4, Pages: 192-196
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1104192B
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Risk factors for syphilis infection in the South Bačka blood donor population
Bogdanović Sanja (Zavod za transfuziju krvi Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Bujandrić Nevenka (Zavod za transfuziju krvi Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Jovanović Radmila (Zavod za transfuziju krvi Vojvodine, Novi Sad)
Introduction. Syphilis is one of infectious diseases that can be transmitted
by blood transfusion. Determining the frequency of syphilis among blood
donors and the relevant risk factors is an important aspect of safe blood
transfusion. Objective. To determine the frequency and the trend of syphilis
infection among blood donors in South Bačka Region, to classify the confirmed
infection and to describe demographic characteristics of seropositive blood
donors and their risk factors. Methods. This retrospective study analyzed
results of routine EIA syphilis screening and blood donor data from South
Bačka Region between 2004 and 2008. Results. Thirteen out of 153,431 tested
blood units were confirmed as syphilis-infected. The study found that the
overall frequency of infection was 8.47 per 100,000 blood donations, with a
trend increase of 2.4%; there was a statistically significant (p<0.001)
higher frequency among first-time blood donors (51.93/100,000) than regular
ones (2.84/100 000). The highest prevalence was noted in donors aged over 45
years. All cases were classified as past syphilis infections. Post-donation
interviews revealed exposure risk in 69.23% of the donors. Conclusion. A
higher frequency of past infections detected in older donors is probably due
to a higher prevalence and incidence of syphilis in the past. Further
continual epidemiologic follow-up of syphilis in blood donors is crucial in
obtaining safe blood.
Keywords: blood donors, syphilis, epidemiology, sexually transmitted diseases
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