TITLE:
Epidemiological Profile of Treponema pallidum Infection in Blood Donors Candidates at Moba, Tanganyika Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Bukasa Héman Kabemba, Ebondo Patrick Kasendue, Muteba André Shiku, Nsomue Gentil Kabingie, Mposhi Djolin Ngiele, Tshite John Kitengie, Kibambe Jérôme Kahenga, Kabiswe Joelle Pungue
KEYWORDS:
Blood Donors, Blood Safety, Syphilis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.4 No.3,
March
20,
2017
ABSTRACT: In sub-Saharan Africa, sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and transfusiontransmissible infections (TTIs) are a public
health problem. Among them, we find the
syphilis that the recipient of blood might contract in the absence of serological
tests in the donor. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence
and profile of the individual at risk for transmission of Treponema pallidum among blood donation candidates. This is a
single-center, retrospective and descriptive
cross-sectional study over a period from 2015 to 2016 at the Katele Health
Reference Center of Moba-Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The use of
Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) was required for the detection of anti-treponematosis
antibodies. The Epi Info 7.1 software was used to analyze the data at the
significant threshold of p 0.05. Of 752 blood donors tested, 62.8% were male
and the mean age was 30.3 ± 6.9 years with extremes ranging from 18 to 43
years. Family,
replacement donors were the most encountered (93.7%).
The seroprevalence of the Treponema
pallidum infection in blood donation candidates was 5.2%. Age (18 to 30
years) was significantly associated with the risk of transmission of syphilis
in the recipient of the blood (OR = 4.4; 95%
CI [1.86-10.24]; p-value 0.005). In 0.9% of cases, an
association with HIV was encountered. The risk of contracting
syphilis after transfusion remains high in our environment. It is mandatory to
continue to research the Treponema
pallidum in the serum of any blood donor. Education of the
population on prevention of sexually transmitted infections and transfusion
safety measures (especially during the donor screening phase) should be
strengthened.