SYPHILIS PREVALENCE AND ITS CO-INFECTION WITH HBV, HCV, AND HIV AMONG HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER.

J Peop Univ Med Health Sci. 2025:15(3), 30-35. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2025/15.03.655

Abstract

However, there is a risk for the recipient of acquiring TTIs, so it is crucial to have data regarding the
prevalence of these TTIs and to have strict strategies to reduce their transmission. OBJECTIVE: To
determine the prevalence of syphilis and its co-infection with HBV, HCV, and HIV among healthy
blood donors. To find out the association of syphilis with different age groups. DESIGN: A
descriptive study with non-probability, consecutive sampling. PLACE of study: Blood Bank, Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. DURATION OF STUDY: January 2021 to December 2022
METHODOLOGY: All blood donors who fulfilled standard departmental blood donation selection
criteria and consented were included in the study. Using an aseptic technique, the serum blood sample
was taken from blood donors. Serological tests for HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HIV antigen-antibody
combination, and syphilis were analyzed by an automated chemiluminescent microparticle
immunoassay (CMIA) method. RESULTS: The study included a total of 48,731 blood donors. The
mean age was 29.5±8.56 years (range 18-65). The prevalence of syphilis positivity was seen in
1125(2.3%) cases. According to age groups, it was most prevalent in 18 to 32 years in 638(1.3%),
then in 48- 65 years, which was found in 404(0. 8%), whereas it was least prevalent in the middle age
group and accounted for 83(0.2%). The co-infection of syphilis with HBV, HCV, and HIV was also
reported in 20 (1.8%), 32 (2.8%), and 07 (0.6%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Syphilis was
found in 2.3% of healthy blood donors. The study proposes to impose strict measures to control the
spread of syphilis and co-infection with other TTIs.