Blood borne infections in blood donors and the epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation

Introduction. The prevalence of blood-borne infections in the Russia remains high. Between 2016–2023, additional safety measures and requirements were introduced for the examination of donor blood, such as molecular screening for pathogens and additional HBV markers testing.

Aim: to analyze the frequency of detection of blood-borne infections in blood donors against the background of the epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. Data from National Report (form No. 64) on the production, storage, transportation and clinical use of donor blood and data from the transfusion information system of the National Medical Research Center for Hematology, Russia, were used.

Results. The implementation of new safety measures carried the risk of reducing the number of donors, but fortunately, this did not happen. By 2020, the prevalence of socially signifi cant infections among donors in the Russian Federation decreased from 18,064 cases to 5,596 cases. However, there was an increase in 2021. This trend correlates with the dynamics of morbidity rates among the population of the Russian Federation. The approach to the registration and control of blood-borne infections for donors differs from that of the general population. For example, HIV-vulnerable population groups are recommended only for voluntary testing, thus, the true incidence rate of HIV in Russia may exceed the offi cial data. A similar problem is observed with viral hepatitis. HBV markers were found in donors of blood and its components more often than other infectious markers. However, among the population of the Russian Federation, the incidence rate of HBV is lower than that of HIV infection (9 versus 40 cases per 100,000 population, respectively).

Conclusion. The prevalence of blood-borne infections among the population of the Russian Federation creates a threat of infected people entering the donor population. Surveillance and control of viral hepatitis B and C requires improvement.

1. Gaponova T.V., Kapranov N.M., Tikhomirov D.S., et. al. Characteristics of the main trends in the blood service of the Russian Federation during 2016– 2020. Gematologiya i transfuziologiya. 2022;67(3):388–97 (In Russian). DOI: 10.35754/0234-5730-2022-67-3-388-397.

2. Government of the Russian Federation Decree № 715 dated 01.12.2004 (as amended on 31.01.2020) “On approval of the list of socially signifi cant diseases and the list of diseases posing a danger to others” (In Russian).

3. On the state of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population in the Russian Federation in 2023: State report. Moscow: Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being, 2024. 364 p. (In Russian).

4. Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 1166n dated 28.10.2020 “On approval of the procedure for donors to undergo a medical examination and a list of medical contraindications (Temporary and Permanent) for blood donation and (or) its components and the Timing of withdrawal, to which a person is subject in the presence of temporary medical indications, from blood donation and (or) its components” (In Russian).

5. Ayupova R.F., Sultanbaev U. S., Absalyamova L.A., et. al. False positive results in screening for infections in blood donors. Transfuziologiya. 2017;18(4):63–9 (In Russian).

6. Gaponova T.V., Abakarov R.R., Vorob’ev A.V., et al. Screening of donor blood for antibodies to the core antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) as a means of improving transfusion safety. Transfuziologiya. 2022;23(1):37–52 (In Russian).

7. Tikhomirov D.S., Tupoleva T.A., Gulyaeva A.A. и др. A system of measures to ensure the safety of blood component transfusions. Gematologiya i transfuziologiya. 2020;65(3):321–34 (In Russian). DOI: 10.35754/0234-5730-2020-65-3-321-334.

8. Tupoleva T.A., Ignatova E.N., Gulyaeva A.A., et al. Screening of donor blood for antibodies to the hepatitis B virus core antigen as a tool for improving transfusion safety for patients with hematological malignancies. Klinicheskaya laboratornaya diagnostika. 2016;61(5):311–6 (In Russian). DOI: 10.18821/0869-2084-2016-5-311-316.

9. Davey R.T., Jr., Bhat N., Yoder C., et al. HIV-1 and T cell dynamics after interruption of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients with a history of sustained viral suppression. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1999;96:15109–14. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.26.15109.

10. Chun T.W., Finzi D., Margolick J., et al. In vivo fate of HIV-1-infected T cells: Quantitative analysis of the transition to stable latency. Nat. Med. 1995;1:1284–90.

11. Whitney J.B., Hill A.L., Sanisetty S., et al. Rapid seeding of the viral reservoir prior to SIV viraemia in rhesus monkeys. Nature. 2014;512:74–7. DOI: www.nature.com/doifi nder/10.1038/nature13594.

12. Renelt S., Schult-Dietrich P., Baldauf H.-M., et al. HIV-1 Infection of LongLived Hematopoietic Precursors In Vitro and In Vivo. Cells. 2022;11:2968. DOI: 10.3390/cells11192968.

13. Levrero M., Pollicino T., Petersen J., et al. Control of cccDNA function in hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2009;51(3):581–92. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2009.05.022.

14. Cortés-Mancera F.M., Restrepo J.C., Osorio G., et al. Occult hepatitis C virus infection in a re-transplanted patients with liver failure of unknown etiology. Rev Col Gastroenterol. 2010;25:72–80.

15. Zaghloul H., El-Sherbiny W. Detection of occult hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Immunol Invest. 2010;39(3):284–91. DOI: 10.3109/08820131003605820.

16. Castillo I., Rodriguez-Inigo E., Bartolome J. Hepatitis C virus replicates in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with occult hepatitis C virus infection. Gut. 2005;54(5):682–5. DOI: 10.1136/gut.2004.057281.

17. Mis’ko O.N., Tikhomirov D.S., Soldatova T.A., et al. Comparative study of the quality of screening of donor blood for molecular markers of viral infections. Gematologiya i transfuziologiya. 2023;68(2):202–18 (In Russian). DOI: 10.35754/0234-5730-2023-68-2-202-218.