Changing trends in seroprevalence rates of transfusion-transmitted diseases among blood donors in Jordan

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B and C infections and transmission are a serious challenge to all healthcare systems. We studied seroprevalence rates of Transfusion Transmitted Diseases (TTD) among blood bank donors in Jordan from 2014 to 2019 as a follow-up study of our previously published work. In addition, we wanted to explore the efficacy of the mandatory vaccination of infants against hepatitis B virus (HBV) which was implemented by the Ministry of Health since 1995 for the eradication of HBV infection in Jordan. METHODS: We reviewed blood bank donors’ records at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) from January 1st, 2014, until December 31st, 2019. Results of seropositivity prevalence rates for HBsAg, anti-HBcore, and anti-HCV, using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) were compared to seropositivity rates from our previously published data. In addition, our results were compared to data obtained from other blood banks in Jordan, as well as compared to published information from blood banks in neighboring countries. RESULTS: The prevalence rates (%) of seropositive blood donors for viral hepatitis for the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, were as follows: HBsAg rates were 0.3386, 0.2108, 0.1801, 0.1898, 0.2068, and 0.2741; anti-HBcore rates were 4.1112, 3.2271, 2.9748, 2.8405, 2.6879 and 3.0986; and anti-HCV rates were 0.1129, 0.0486, 0.0548, 0.0654, 0.0782, and 0.0839, respectively. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HBcore and Anti-HCV antibodies in 2019 (one sample z-score test, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence rates of hepatitis B and C infections among Jordanian blood bank donors showed a steady decline between 2009 and 2017, and these rates were much lower in Jordan than in neighboring countries. However, an increase in the prevalence rates of hepatitis B and C infections among blood bank donors was documented in 2019. While the reasons for this increase are not clear yet, these findings highlight the importance of renewed efforts to increase public health awareness of HBV and implement effective measures to prevent the transmission and infection with HBV, including national vaccination programs.