Reducing risks of Transfusion‐transmitted infections in a resource‐limited hospital‐based blood bank: the case of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon

Background and Objectives Although interest in assessing risk of TTI s, very few trends in blood safety epidemiological data from resource‐limited blood services are reported in the literature. This analysis aims at reporting trends in seroprevalences of TTI s in blood donations in the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital ( UTH ) from 2011 to 2015 and to describe reasons for these changes. Materials and Methods All donations of 2015 were tested for HIV 1&2 antibodies and the P24 antigen, HB sAg, HCV antibody and the Treponema pallidum antibody. Screening for HIV uses a national algorithm based on the systematic use of two assays of different principles: a rapid determination testing assay and an EIA HIV 1 & 2 Ab‐Ag. The tests used for HB sAg and HCVA b screening were all based on EIA techniques. Treponema pallidum antibody screening was based on Treponema Pallidum hemagglutination assay ( TPHA ) and rapid immunochromatographic test ( RIT ). Screening techniques and results from 2015 were compared to retrospective data from 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Results In 2015, 13·4% ( n = 214) of 1,596 blood donations were seropositive for at least one screened TTI s. The most frequent serological marker was HB sAg with 123 (7·7%) blood units contaminated. Nineteen (1·2%) and 18 (1·1%) blood units was positive for HIV and syphilis, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the total number of blood donations ( P < 10 −4 ) and HIV , HB sAg and syphilis seroprevalences and an increase in the proportion of voluntary non‐remunerated blood donor ( P < 0·05). HCVA b seroprevalence was 3·8% in 2015 and has not decreased significantly over the years ( P = 0·09). Conclusion Significant progress is noted in reduction in seroprevalences of HIV , HBV , HCV and syphilis since the beginning of a regular registration of data in 1990.