Abstract
Background: Growing awareness about the importance of blood safety for controlling the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has helped to decrease the spread of this virus in many settings. This study was conducted in order to evaluate potential risk factors for HCV infection among blood donors in Georgia. Methods: The study population consisted of 553 blood donors in three major Georgian cities; Tbilisi, the capital city and Batumi and Poti, naval port cities. Risk factors were examined using a behavior questionnaire. All blood samples were initially tested using 3rd generation anti-HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and confirmed using recombinant immunoblot assays and nucleic acid testing. Results: Forty-three blood donors, 7.8%, were confirmed HCV positive. Significant risk factors included: drug injection ever (OR: 42; 95% CI: 3.2–550.7); history of hepatitis (OR: 25.9; 95% CI: 4.6–145.5); history of a previous surgical procedure (OR: 148.4; 95% CI: 26.9–817.4); blood transfusion (OR: 25.9; 95% CI: 3.2–210.9). Conclusions: This study found a very high prevalence of HCV among blood donors in Georgia. The main risk factor for HCV infection in this population of blood donors was previous contact with contaminated blood or blood products. Reliable screening of donors and their blood is critical for controlling the further spread of HCV in Georgia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Choo QL, Kuo G, Weiner AJ, Overby LR, Bradley DW, Houghton M. Isolation of a cDNA clone derived from a blood-borne non-A, non-B viral hepatitis genome. Science 1989;244(4902):359–362.
Alter MJ, Margolis HS, Krawczynski K, et al. The natural history of community-acquired hepatitis C in the United States. The Sentinel Counties Chronic non-A, non-B Hepatitis Study Team. N Engl J Med 1992; 327:1899–1905.
Ebeling F. Epidemiology of the hepatitis C virus. Vox Sang 1998;74(Suppl 2):143–146.
Moradpour D, Cerny A, et al. Hepatitis C:An update. Swiss Med Weekly 2001;131:291–298.
Thomas DL, Astemborski J, et al. The natural history of Hepatitis C infection:Host, viral, and environmental factors. JAMA 2000;284:450–456.
Memon MI, Memon MA. Hepatitis C:An epidemio-logical review. J Viral Hepat 2002;9:84–100.
Conry-Cantilena C, VanRaden M, Gibble J, et al. Routes of infection, viremia, and liver disease in blood donors found to have hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med 1996;334:1691–1696.
Balasekaran R, Bulterys M, Jamal MM, et al. A case-control study of risk factors for sporadic hepatitis C virus infection in the southwestern United States. Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:1341–1346.
Chiaramonte M, Stroffolini T, Lorenzoni U, et al. Risk factors in community-acquired chronic hepatitis C virus infection:A case –control study in Italy. J Hepatol 1996;24:129–134.
Murphy EL, Bryzman SM, Glynn SA, et al. Risk fac-tors for hepatitis C virus infection in United States blood donors. NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Do-nor Study (REDS). Hepatology 2000;31:756–762.
Sun CA, Chen HC, Lu CF, et al. Transmission of hepatitis C virus in Taiwan:Prevalence and risk factors based on a nationwide survey. J Med Virol 1999;59: 290–296.
Lee SD, Chan CY, Wang YJ, et al. Seroepidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan. Hepatology 1991;13:830–833.
Bad A, Akhtar S, et al. Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in male adults in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan. Tropical Med Int Health. 2001;6:732–738.
Ackerman Z, Ackerman E, Paltiel O. Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus:A systematic review. J Viral Hepat 2000;7:93–103.
Kao JH, Hwang YT, Chen PJ, et al. Transmission of hepatitis C virus between spouses:The important role of exposure duration. Am J Gastroenterol 1996;91: 2087–2090.
Kim YS, Ahn YO, Kim DW. A case –control study on the risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection among Koreans. J Korean Med Sci 1996;11:38–43.
Neal KR, Jones DA, Killey D, James V. Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection. A case –control study of blood donors in the Trent Region (UK). Epidemiol Infect 1994;112:595–601.
Yee LJ, Weiss HL, et al. Risk factors for acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection:a case control series and potential implication for disease surveillance. BMC Infect Dis 2001;1(8).
Ruzibakiev R, Kato H, et al. Risk factors and sero-prevelance of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunide ciency virus infection in Uzbekistan. Intervirology 2001;1(44):327–332.
Ho MS, Hsu CP, et al. High Rate of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in an Isolated Community:Persistent Hy-perendemicity or Period-Related Phenomena? J Med Virol 1997;52:370–376.
Butsashvili M, Tsertsvadze T, et al. Prevelance of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and HIV in Georgian blood donors. Eur J Epidemiol 2001;17:693–695.
Alavian SM, Gholami B, et al. Hepatitis C risk factors in Iranian volunteer blood donors:A case –control study. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2002;17:1092–1097.
Chang CJ, Lin CH, et al. Hepatitis C virus infection among short-term intravenous drug users in southern Taiwan. Eur J Epidemiol 1999;15:597–601.
Thorpe L, Ouelle LJ et al. Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Prevalence, risk factors, and prevention opportunities among young injection drug users in Chicago, 1997 – 1999. J Infect Dis 2000;182:1588–1594.
Roy E, Haley N, et al. Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among street youths. CMAJ 2001;165:557–560.
Garfein RS, Vlahov D et al. Viral infections in short-term injection drug users:The prevalence of the hepa-titis C, hepatitis B, human immunode ciency, and human T-Lymphotropic viruses. Am J Public Health 1996;86:655–661.
Delage G, Infante-Rivard C, et al. Risk factors for acquisition of hepatitis C virus infection in blood do-nors:Results of a case-control study. Gastroenterology 1999;116:893–899.
Murill CS, Weeks H et al. Age-speci c seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infec-tion among injection drug users admitted to drug treatment in 6 US cities. Am J Public Health 2002;92: 385–387.
Kessler A, del Rio C, et al. The emerging HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Republic of Georgia. Int J AIDS and STDS (in press).
Skarbinski J, Walker HK, et al. The burden of out-of-pocket payments for health care in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia JAMA 2002;287:1043–1049.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zaller, N., Nelson, K.E., Aladashvili, M. et al. Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Blood Donors in Georgia. Eur J Epidemiol 19, 547–553 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EJEP.0000032352.29173.78
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EJEP.0000032352.29173.78