%0 Journal Article
%T Hepatitis C infection markers among blood donors in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.
%A Batina Agasa S
%A Dupont E
%A Kayembe T
%A Bolukaoto B
%A Kambale K
%A Tshomba O
%A Malengela R
%A Mbongo C
%A Vertongen F
%A Guilbis B
%J Revue m¨¦dicale des Grands Lacs
%P 212-220
%@ 2304-0173
%D 2012
%I D¨¦partement de M¨¦decine de la Famille
%X Background: The role played by blood transfusion in the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) is a concern. HCV was detected in late 2004 among blood donors in the DRC, and few data are available on HCV in Kisangani. Determining the sero-prevalence of HCV among blood donors is essential.
Patients and methods: 1247 ¨¦chantillons de sang pr¨¦lev¨¦s chez tous les donneurs b¨¦n¨¦voles ayant fait don de sang du ao£¿t 2005 au 30 avril 2006 au Centre Provincial de Transfusion Sanguine ont ¨¦t¨¦ analys¨¦s pour la recherche d¡¯anticorps anti-VHC. En m¨ºme temps que la s¨¦rologie anti-VHC, les marqueurs du VIH et du VHB ¨¦taient d¨¦pist¨¦s.
Results: In total, 51 (4.1%) voluntary blood donors were carriers of HCV antibodies. Fifty-two donors (4.2%) were HIV-positive and 60 (4.8%) were HBV-positive. The average age of HCV-positive donors was 31.4 years (¡À13.1). HCV-positive serology was significantly lower in donors between the ages of 17 and 24 years (p<0.05). Gender did not have an impact HCV sero-prevalence.
Conclusion: The sero-prevalence of hepatitis C is relatively high, similar to that of HIV, in volunteer blood donors in Kisangani. This result demonstrates the need for mandatory HCV screening of all blood donors to prevent HCV transmission in Kisangani.
%K Hepatitis C
%K transfusion
%K Hepatitis C virus
%K Hepatitis C infection markers
%K blood donors
%K Kisangani
%K Democratic Republic of Congo
%U http://www.grandlacs-med-journal.com/images/stories/142012abstract_3.pdf