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SDG 3: STI

Abstract

Background

Syphilis in blood donors (BD) has increased in many countries.

Aim

We aimed to describe trends in syphilis seroposivity in BD in France, to identify risk factors and assess if a non-treponemic test (NTT) could define BD having recovered from syphilis for more than 1 year.

Methods

The analysis covered the period 2007 to 2022 and 45,875,939 donations. Of the 474 BD syphilis-positive in 2022, 429 underwent additional investigations with an NTT. History of syphilis was obtained at the post-donation interview or based on serology results for repeat donors.

Results

Until 2021, positivity rates remained stable (mean: 1.18/10,000 donations, range: 1.01–1.38). An increased rate was observed in 2022 (1.74/10,000; p = 0.02). Over the whole study period, prevalence was 2.2 times higher in male than in female BD (4.1 times higher in 2022). The proportion of males with an identified risk factor who have sex with men increased from 16.7% in 2007 to 64.9% in 2022. Based on NTT, 79 (18%) of the donors who were seropositive in 2022 were classified as having been infected in the previous year. History of syphilis was available for 30 of them. All had an infection within the previous 3 years. Among seven donors with a syphilis < 12 months before testing, one had an NTT titre ≥ 8, three a titre between 1 and 4, three were negative.

Conclusion

Syphilis seropositivity increased considerably in BDs in 2022, mostly in males, notably MSM. Available data did not allow appropriate evaluation of the NTT to distinguish recent from past infection.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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2024-08-08
2024-12-21
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Syphilis testing in blood donors, France, 2007 to 2022
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Syria+Laperche&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Laperche Syria</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Claire+Sauvage&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Sauvage Claire</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Sophie+Le+Cam&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Le Cam Sophie</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Florence+Lot&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Lot Florence</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Lucile+Malard&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Malard Lucile</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Pierre+Gallian&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Gallian Pierre</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Elodie+Pouchol&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Pouchol Elodie</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Pascale+Richard&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Richard Pascale</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Pascal+Morel&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Morel Pascal</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Philippe+Grange&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Grange Philippe</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Pierre+Tiberghien&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Tiberghien Pierre</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Nadjet+Benhaddou&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Benhaddou Nadjet</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Nicolas+Dupin&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Dupin Nicolas</a></span>. Syphilis testing in blood donors, France, 2007 to 2022. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2024;29(32):pii=2400036. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400036" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400036</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 12 Jan 2024;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 29 Apr 2024 </span> </p>
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