Seroprevalence of viral transfusion transmissible infections (HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, Syphilis) and coinfection among healthy volunteer blood donors during 5-years in Luanda, Angola.

BACKGROUND: The transmission of diseases by blood products continues to be a worldwide health problem, especially in Africa. Seroprevalence rates of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Syphilis, and Coinfection in Angola are poorly documented. This study aims to identify the seroprevalence of markers with positive results for Hepatitis B, C, HIV, Syphilis, and Coinfection in blood donors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using a database of positive serological markers for these infections and coinfection in 2734 blood donors traced from 2011 to 2016 in Luanda, Angola. The Chi-Square test (χ2) or Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate serological positivity and donors' characteristics. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 2734 blood donors aged 18 to 64 (median age 32 ± 9) were screened from 2011 to 2016. 73.9 % of the donors were positive for one Transfusion-Transmitted Infection (TTI), and 5.9 % showed evidence of multiple infections. The overall seroprevalence rate was 50.2 % (1373) for HBV, 20 % (436) for Syphilis, 7 % (191) for HIV, 5.1 % (140) for HCV, and 5.8 % for coinfected donors. 2467 (90 %) were men, and 267 (10 %) were women. We identified 118 (5.8 %) coinfected donors. Of those, 40 (33.9 %) simultaneously presented Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)/Syphilis, 24 (20.3 %) HBsAg/HIV, 22 (18.6 %) HBsAg/HCV, 20 (16.9 %) HIV/Syphilis, 8 (6.8 %) HCV/Syphilis, and 4 (3.4 %) HIV/HCV. CONCLUSION: A high transfusion-transmissible infection prevalence was found compared to some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, intensifying the screening for these transfusion-transmitted infections in blood donors is critical to ensure blood safety.

Seroprevalence of viral transfusion transmissible infections (HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, Syphilis) and coinfection among healthy volunteer blood donors during 5-years in Luanda, Angola

Abstract Background The transmission of diseases by blood products continues to be a worldwide health problem, especially in Africa. Seroprevalence rates of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Syphilis, and Coinfection in Angola are poorly documented. This study aims to identify the seroprevalence of markers with positive results for Hepatitis B, C, HIV, Syphilis, and Coinfection in blood donors. Material and methods A retrospective study was conducted using a database of positive serological markers for these infections and coinfection in 2734 blood donors traced from 2011 to 2016 in Luanda, Angola. The Chi-Square test (χ2) or Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate serological positivity and donors' characteristics. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 2734 blood donors aged 18 to 64 (median age 32 ± 9) were screened from 2011 to 2016. 73.9 % of the donors were positive for one Transfusion-Transmitted Infection (TTI), and 5.9 % showed evidence of multiple infections. The overall seroprevalence rate was 50.2 % (1373) for HBV, 20 % (436) for Syphilis, 7 % (191) for HIV, 5.1 % (140) for HCV, and 5.8 % for coinfected donors. 2467 (90 %) were men, and 267 (10 %) were women. We identified 118 (5.8 %) coinfected donors. Of those, 40 (33.9 %) simultaneously presented Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)/Syphilis, 24 (20.3 %) HBsAg/HIV, 22 (18.6 %) HBsAg/HCV, 20 (16.9 %) HIV/Syphilis, 8 (6.8 %) HCV/Syphilis, and 4 (3.4 %) HIV/HCV. Conclusion A high transfusion-transmissible infection prevalence was found compared to some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, intensifying the screening for these transfusion-transmitted infections in blood donors is critical to ensure blood safety.

Clinical Features Related to Severity and Mortality among COVID-19 Patients in a Pre-Vaccine Period in Luanda, Angola.

Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with clinical features of diverse severity. Few studies investigated the severity and mortality predictors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Africa. Herein, we investigated the clinical features of severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Luanda, Angola. Methods: This multicenter cohort study involved 101 COVID-19 patients, between December 2020 and April 2021, with clinical and laboratory data collected. Analysis was done using independent-sample t-tests and Chi-square tests. The results were deemed significant when p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of patients was 51 years (ranging from 18 to 80 years) and 60.4% were male. Fever (46%), cough (47%), gastrointestinal symptoms (26.7%), and asthenia (26.7%), were the most common symptoms. About 64.4% of the patients presented coexistent disorders, including hypertension (42%), diabetes (17%), and chronic renal diseases (6%). About 23% were non-severe, 77% were severe, and 10% died during hospitalization. Variations in the concentration of neutrophil, urea, creatinine, c-reactive protein, sodium, creatine kinase, and chloride were independently associated with severity and/or mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Several factors contributed to the severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Angola. Further studies related to clinical features should be carried out to help clinical decision-making and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in Angola.

El diagnóstico temprano de la anemia falciforme: un problema no resuelto en África negra / Early diagnosis of sickle cell disease: an unsolved problem in black Africa

Al Director:La anemia falciforme (AF) es la enfermedad hereditaria más frecuente en el mundo, reconocida por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) como un problema prioritario de la salud pública.1 Más del 70 por ciento de quienes la sufren, viven en el continente africano, donde cada año nacen entre 150 000 y 300 000 individuos homocigóticos.2 En algunas zonas del África Subsahariana, el porcentaje de niños nacidos con este trastorno puede llegar al 2 por ciento. En general, la prevalencia del rasgo falciforme oscila entre el 10 por ciento y el 40 por ciento en África Ecuatorial y disminuye al 1 por ciento - 2 por ciento en la costa norteafricana. Esta distribución se debe a que el rasgo falciforme confiere una ventaja de supervivencia frente al paludismo, con el consiguiente aumento de la frecuencia del gen mutante en las zonas con elevada transmisión de este parásito.3,4Con el propósito de perfeccionar los cuidados de los pacientes con AF desde la primera infancia, se han implementado programas de pesquisa perinatal en varios países africanos: Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Camerún, Guinea Bissau, Burundi, Ruanda, República Democrática del Congo y Sudán.5 El diagnóstico temprano de la enfermedad permite educar a la familia para la detección precoz de las infecciones, crisis de secuestro esplénico y otras manifestaciones clínicas, iniciar la vacunación contra Streptococus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae tipo B y Neisseria meningitidis tipo C, prescribir penicilina profiláctica desde las 12 semanas de edad, acciones que tienen un impacto demostrado en la reducción de la mortalidad por complicaciones de la drepanocitosis,6 como se ha logrado en Cuba.7Angola es uno de los países del África Subsahariana donde no existe un programa de detección pre o posnatal de la AF, y con frecuencia muchos casos se diagnostican tardíamente por complicaciones que pudieran ser prevenibles. En un estudio realizado en 2 clínicas de Luanda, en el que se incluyeron....(AU)

Criptococosis meníngea en anciana con sida: presentación de caso / Meningeal cryptococcosis: presentation of a case

Fundamento: La criptococosis meníngea es una enfermedad oportunista que resurge en las últimas décadas, asociada a la inmunodepresión. Esta patología puede ser ignorada y no diagnosticarse si no existe el conocimiento y la sospecha de su presencia, y debido a esto confundirse con otras causas de meningoencefalitis lo que favorece errores de terapéutica, impide la curación, y provoca complicaciones o la muerte en los casos más severos. Presentación de caso: Se presenta el caso de una paciente femenina de 75 años, de raza negra, con antecedentes de paludismo que acude a consulta por pérdida de la sensibilidad y la motilidad y cefalea. Se le diagnosticó criptococosis meníngea y sida con el estudio del líquido cefalorraquídeo y las diferentes pruebas para VIH. Recibió tratamiento médico con antimicóticos y antirretrovirales Conclusiones: El diagnóstico certero más la combinación de medicamentos antimicóticos y antirretrovirales fueron la base del éxito para salvar la vida de esta paciente y la regresión de la mayoría de los síntomas neurológicos(AU)

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis is an opportunistic disease that re-emerged in recent decades, associated with immunosuppression. This disease can be ignored and undiagnosed if one does not have the knowledge and suspicion of its presence, a situation that causes confusion with other causes of meningitis and brings about therapeutic errors, prevents healing and causes complications or death in severe cases. Case presentation: A female black patient 75 year-old patient with a history of malaria comes to consultation due to loss of sensitivity and motility, and headache. She had diagnoses of AIDS and cryptococcal meningitis through the study of cerebrospinal fluid and various tests to detect HIV. Treatment with antifungal and antiretroviral drugs was prescribed. Conclusions: An accurate diagnosis and the combination of antifungal and antiretroviral drugs were effective in saving the patients life and regressing most of her neurological symptoms(AU)