Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) continue to pose a significant threat to the safety of blood transfusions, particularly in low-resource regions. Infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and malaria are of particular concern. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of TTIs among voluntary blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in North Rajasthan. Materials And Methods: Aretrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted at the blood Centre of a tertiary care institution over a 12-month period, from August 2023 to July 2024. A total of 34,208 voluntary blood donors were screened for HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis, and malaria using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) using Vitros 5800 automated system and rapid diagnostic tests. The donor population included 21,930 in-house donors and 12,278 individuals from organized voluntary blood donation (VBD) camps. Data were statistically evaluated to assess the prevalence and co-infection patterns of TTIs. Results: The overall prevalence of TTIs among the 34,208 donors was 1,369 (4%) with male donors accounting for about 1343 (98.1%). The highest seroprevalence was observed for HBV, with 517 cases (1.51%), followed by syphilis with 414 (1.21%), HCV with 253 (0.74%), and HIV with 185 (0.54%). No cases of malaria were detected. The prevalence of TTIs was significantly higher among in-house donors 1168 (3.41%) compared to those from voluntary blood donation camps 201(0.59%). Atotal of 15 donors (0.04%) had co-infections involving two or more TTIs. Conclusion: This study underscores the ongoing risk of TTIs among voluntary blood donors, with HBV being the most prevalent infection. The comparatively lower infection rate among VBD camp donors supports the promotion of structured and community-based donor recruitment strategies. Enhanced donor selection criteria, advanced screening technologies, and targeted awareness programs are essential to mitigate TTI transmission risks and maintain a safe and reliable blood supply. Categories: Internal Medicine, Medical Education, Medical Simulation
Kumari et al. (Mon,) studied this question.