Accidental Diagnosis of Infections among Blood Donors

ntroduction: Due to widespread incidence and prevalence, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV), syphilis and malaria are the most common viral infections transmitted via blood transfusions. Yet there is insufficient information available about the exact prevalence of these infections among blood donors in Pakistan. The objectives of current study are to highlight the importance of blood screening among blood donors by finding the prevalence of high-risk transmissible diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis and malaria in the population of Nawabshah (Sindh) and to compare it with other provinces. Methods: A descriptive type of cross-sectional study was conducted on 37,845 blood donor volunteers at the blood bank of a tertiary care hospital, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, in Nawabshah Sindh from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018. The data was taken from the well-maintained yearly record of the hospital blood bank. Analysis of all the data regarding blood donors was done using Statistical Program of Special Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: The most common age group was between 18 - 40 years. Donors were predominantly male (90%). HBV is the most prevalent disease amongst the blood donors of Peoples Medical College with a prevalence of 6.52% while HIV, HCV and malaria were 6.33%, 5.83% and 1.24% respectively whereas Syphilis is the least prevalent disease with a prevalence of 1.11%. Comparing with other provinces, the highest prevalence of hepatitis B was seen in Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah, Sindh whereas for hepatitis C it was the highest in Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh. Moreover, Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar was the least burdened with Hepatitis B (1.46%) and C (1.34%). Conclusion: Accidental diagnosis of blood-borne infections including Hepatitis B, C, HIV, Syphilis and malaria highlights importance of blood screening among the blood donors. There is a need of public education regarding infection prevention and transmission.