New HIV infections from blood transfusions averted in 28 countries supported by PEPFAR blood safety programs, 2004-2015.

BACKGROUND: To quantify the impact of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on the risk of HIV transmission through infected blood donations in countries supported by PEPFAR blood safety programs. METHODS: Data reported to the World Health Organization Global Database on Blood Safety were analyzed from 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Asia, and the Caribbean during 2004-2015. We used the Goals model of Spectrum Spectrum System Software, version 5.53, to perform the modeling, assuming laboratory quality for HIV testing had 91.9% sensitivity and 97.7% specificity irrespective of testing method based on results of two external quality assurance and proficiency testing studies of transfusion screening for HIV in SSA blood centers. We calculated the number of new HIV infections from the number of transfusions and the prevalence of HIV infection acquired from blood transfusions with infected blood donations. We determined the impact of laboratory testing programs by estimating the number of new HIV infections averted since PEPFAR implementation. RESULTS: Assuming that HIV testing would not be performed in any of these countries without PEPFAR funding, the number of new HIV infections acquired from blood transfusions averted by laboratory testing increased over time in all 28 countries. The total number of HIV infections averted was estimated at 229 278 out of 20 428 373 blood transfusions during 2004-2015. CONCLUSION: Our mathematical modeling suggests a positive impact achieved over 12 years of PEPFAR support for blood safety. Standardized HIV testing of donated blood has reduced the risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusions in SSA, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Trends and Gaps in National Blood Transfusion Services - 14 Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2014-2016.

Ensuring availability of safe blood products through recruitment of voluntary, nonremunerated, blood donors (VNRDs) and prevention of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis, is important for public health (1,2). During 2004-2016, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) provided approximately $468 million in financial support and technical assistance* to 14 sub-Saharan African countries† with high HIV prevalence to strengthen national blood transfusion services (NBTSs)§ and improve blood safety and availability. CDC analyzed these countries' 2014-2016 blood safety surveillance data to update previous reports (1,2) and summarize achievements and programmatic gaps as some NBTSs begin to transition funding and technical support from PEPFAR to local ministries of health (MOHs) (2,3). Despite a 60% increase in blood supply since 2004 and steady declines in HIV prevalence (to <1% among blood donors in seven of the 14 countries), HIV prevalence among blood donors still remains higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (4). PEPFAR support has contributed to significant reductions in HIV prevalence among blood donors in the majority of PEPFAR-supported countries, and linking donors who screen HIV-positive to confirmatory testing and indicated treatment, as well as further reducing TTIs, remains a public health priority (5).

The impact of co-morbid conditions on family history of venous thromboembolism in Whites and Blacks.

INTRODUCTION: Our objectives were to compare the magnitude of family history as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk between Blacks and Whites, and to assess the impact of co-morbid conditions on familial risk for VTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from the Genetic Attributes Thrombosis Epidemiology (GATE) study, a matched case-control study which enrolled Blacks and Whites aged 18-70years in Atlanta, Georgia. A total of 1,094 case patients with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) and 1,264 control patients were interviewed about their family history. RESULTS: Family history of VTE was a statistically significant risk factor for VTE among Blacks (odds ratio (OR)=2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-4.1; P value<0.0001) and among Whites (OR=2.7, 95% CI 1.9-3.7; P value<0.0001); among Blacks and Whites who were obese or had hypertension; among Blacks who had diabetes mellitus or cancer; as well as among males and females, and across all age categories. Family history of VTE increased the risk of VTE among Blacks with cancer by about 6-fold, whereas among Blacks without cancer the increased risk due to a positive family history was about 3-fold; a 2-fold relative difference. In addition, family history was a risk factor for VTE among case patients with DVT only or with PE only. The effect of family history generally was stronger among those with recurrent episodes of VTE compared with a first episode of VTE. For example, family history of any VTE was a strong risk factor among Black females with recurrent VTE compared with Black females with first VTE (OR=3.9, 95% CI 2.0-7.5; P value<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that the adjusted attributable fraction for VTE was 16.9% among Blacks vs. 18.3% among Whites, and certain co-morbid conditions could further increase the risk of VTE associated with a positive family history of VTE.