Use of a rapid electronic survey methodology to estimate blood donors' potential exposure to emerging infectious diseases: Application of a statistically representative sampling methodology to assess risk in US blood centers.

Risk assessments of transfusion-transmitted emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are complicated by the fact that blood donors' demographics and behaviors can be different from the general population. Therefore, when assessing potential blood donor exposure to EIDs, the use of general population characteristics, such as U.S. travel statistics, may invoke uncertainties that result in inaccurate estimates of blood donor exposure. This may, in turn, lead to the creation of donor deferral policies that do not match actual risk. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This article reports on the development of a system to rapidly assess EID risks for a nationally representative portion of the U.S. blood donor population. To assess the effectiveness of this system, a test survey was developed and deployed to a statistically representative sample frame of blood donors from five blood collecting organizations. Donors were directed to an online survey to ascertain their recent travel and potential exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). RESULTS: A total of 7128 responses were received from 54 256 invitations. The age-adjusted estimated total number of blood donors potentially exposed to MERS-CoV was approximately 15 640 blood donors compared to a lower U.S. general population-based estimate of 9610 blood donors. CONCLUSION: The structured donor demographic sample-based data provided an assessment of blood donors' potential exposure to an emerging pathogen that was 63% larger than the U.S. population-based estimate. This illustrates the need for tailored blood donor-based EID risk assessments that provide more specific demographic risk intelligence and can inform appropriate regulatory decision making.

Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C: A cluster of cases in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients in Sri Lanka.

OBJECTIVES: To report the clinical and virologic epidemiology of a recent epidemic of hepatitis C in thalassaemia patients in Sri Lanka. BACKGROUND: Transfusion-dependent thalassaemia patients remain at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Here, we report a cluster of recent HCV infections in Sri Lankan thalassaemia patients and examine the phylogenetic relationship of viral sequences. METHODS: We conducted two prospective cross-sectional surveys of 513 patients in four Sri Lankan thalassaemia centres in 2014/2015 and re-surveyed one centre in 2016. We screened for anti-HCV antibodies using the CTK Biotech enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and confirmed active infection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for HCV-RNA. HCV genomes were sequenced by unbiased target enrichment. RESULTS: Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 116/513 (22.6%) of patients initially tested. Active hepatitis C infection was found in 26 patients with no cases of active hepatitis B infection. Of 26 patients with HCV, two were infected with genotype 1(a), and the rest had 3(a). In a single centre (Ragama), 122 patients (120 new cases and two previously tested, but negative) were retested for anti-HCV antibodies. 32/122 (26.2%) patients were seropositive. Twenty-three (23/122; 18.8%) of these new cases were confirmed by HCV PCR (all genotype 3[a]). CONCLUSION: There is a significant cluster of recent HCV cases in multiply transfused thalassaemia patients in several centres in Sri Lanka. Most of the viruses shared a close phylogenetic relationship. The results are consistent with recent continuing transfusion-transmitted HCV infection. Routine surveillance for HCV of chronically transfused patients is required irrespective of screening of blood products.

Evaluation of the Seroprevalence of Infectious Diseases in 2,445 in vitro Fertilization Cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the seroprevalence of positive markers for syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) I and II, human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) I and II, and hepatitis B and C among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis among patients who underwent IVF, between January 2013 and February 2016, and who had complete screening records. RESULTS: We analyzed 1,008 patients who underwent IVF, amounting to 2,445 cycles. Two patients (0.2%) tested positive for HIV I and II and none for HTLV I and II. Three patients (0.3%) had positive screening for syphilis, and two (0.2%) had positive hepatitis C antibody test (anti-HCV). A positive hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg) test was observed in 4 patients (0.4%), while 47 (4.7%) patients were positive for IgG antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HbC IgG), and only 1 (0.1%) was positive for IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HbC IgM). The anti-HbS test was negative in 659 patients (65.3%). Only 34.7% of the patients had immunity against the Hepatitis B virus. Patients with an anti-HbS negative result were older than those with a hepatitis B test (anti-HbS) positive result (36.3 versus 34.9; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study showed lower infection rates than the Brazilian ones for the diseases studied in patients undergoing IVF. Only a few patients were immunized against hepatitis B.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a soroprevalência de marcadores positivos para sífilis, vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) I e II, vírus linfotrópicos de células T humanas (HTLV) I e II e hepatite B e C em mulheres submetidas a fertilização in vitro (FIV). MéTODOS: Realizamos uma análise retrospectiva entre as pacientes submetidas a FIV, entre janeiro de 2013 e fevereiro de 2016, e que possuíam prontuários completos. RESULTADOS: Foram analisadas 1.008 pacientes submetidas a FIV, totalizando 2,445 ciclos. Duas pacientes (0,2%) apresentaram resultado positivo para HIV I e II, e nenhuma para HTLV I e II. Três pacientes (0,3%) apresentaram triagem positiva para sífilis, e duas (0,2%) apresentaram teste de pesquisa de anticorpos anti-HCV (anti-HCV) positivo. Um teste de antígeno de superfície do vírus da hepatite B (HbsAg) positivo foi observado em 4 pacientes (0,4%), enquanto 47 (4,7%) pacientes foram positivas para anticorpos IgG contra o antígeno de superfície da hepatite B (IgG anti-HbC), e apenas 1 (0,1%) foi positiva para anticorpos IgM contra o antígeno central da hepatite B (IgM anti-HbC). O teste de anticorpos contra hepatite B (anti-HbS) foi negativo em 659 pacientes (65,3%). Apenas 34,7% das pacientes tinham imunidade contra o vírus da hepatite B. Pacientes com resultado negativo anti-HbS eram mais velhas do que aquelas com resultado positivo anti-HbS (36,3 versus 34,9; p < 0,001). CONCLUSãO: Este estudo mostrou taxas de infecção inferiores às taxas brasileiras para as doenças estudadas em pacientes submetidas à FIV. Apenas alguns pacientes foram imunizados contra a hepatite B.

False-positive blood cultures: The need for follow-up.

The diagnosis of blood-borne infections in immunocompromised patients is a major challenge for the clinical microbiology laboratory. Isolation of bloodborne pathogens in these patients has profound clinical implications, yet is fraught with technical problems, including the presence of unusual and difficult to isolate pathogens. Coupled with this is the problem of false-positive blood culture signals from automated blood culture systems which further delays the definitive diagnosis. Here, we present a case of an 8-year-old boy with Ph +ve acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who has repeated 'false positive' blood cultures and later grew an uncommon organism.

Evaluation of the seroprevalence of infectious diseases in 2, 445 in vitro fertilization cycles / Avaliação da soroprevalência de doenças infecciosas em 2. 445 ciclos de fertilização in vitro

Abstract Objective To evaluate the seroprevalence of positive markers for syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) I and II, human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) I and II, and hepatitis B and C among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis among patients who underwent IVF, between January 2013 and February 2016, and who had complete screening records. Results We analyzed 1,008 patients who underwent IVF, amounting to 2,445 cycles. Two patients (0.2%) tested positive for HIV I and II and none for HTLV I and II. Three patients (0.3%) had positive screening for syphilis, and two (0.2%) had positive hepatitis C antibody test (anti-HCV). A positive hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg) test was observed in 4 patients (0.4%), while 47 (4.7%) patients were positive for IgG antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HbC IgG), and only 1 (0.1%) was positive for IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HbC IgM). The anti-HbS test was negative in 659 patients (65.3%). Only 34.7% of the patients had immunity against the Hepatitis B virus. Patients with an anti-HbS negative result were older than those with a hepatitis B test (anti-HbS) positive result (36.3 versus 34.9; p<0.001). Conclusion The present study showed lower infection rates than the Brazilian ones for the diseases studied in patients undergoing IVF. Only a few patients were immunized against hepatitis B.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a soroprevalência de marcadores positivos para sífilis, vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) I e II, vírus linfotrópicos de células T humanas (HTLV) I e II e hepatite B e C em mulheres submetidas a fertilização in vitro (FIV). Métodos Realizamos uma análise retrospectiva entre as pacientes submetidas a FIV, entre janeiro de 2013 e fevereiro de 2016, e que possuíam prontuários completos. Resultados Foram analisadas 1.008 pacientes submetidas a FIV, totalizando 2,445 ciclos. Duas pacientes (0,2%) apresentaram resultado positivo para HIV I e II, e nenhuma para HTLV I e II. Três pacientes (0,3%) apresentaram triagem positiva para sífilis, e duas (0,2%) apresentaram teste de pesquisa de anticorpos anti-HCV (anti-HCV) positivo. Um teste de antígeno de superfície do vírus da hepatite B (HbsAg) positivo foi observado em 4 pacientes (0,4%), enquanto 47 (4,7%) pacientes foram positivas para anticorpos IgG contra o antígeno de superfície da hepatite B (IgG anti-HbC), e apenas 1 (0,1%) foi positiva para anticorpos IgM contra o antígeno central da hepatite B (IgM anti-HbC). O teste de anticorpos contra hepatite B (anti-HbS) foi negativo em 659 pacientes (65,3%). Apenas 34,7% das pacientes tinham imunidade contra o vírus da hepatite B. Pacientes comresultado negativo anti-HbS erammais velhas do que aquelas com resultado positivo anti-HbS (36,3 versus 34,9; p<0,001). Conclusão Este estudo mostrou taxas de infecção inferiores às taxas brasileiras para as doenças estudadas em pacientes submetidas à FIV. Apenas alguns pacientes foram imunizados contra a hepatite B.