Transfusion Transmitable Infections and Reasons for Release of Total Blood to the Blood Bank of the Yaounde Centrall Hospital

Blood banks in sub-Saharan Africa regularly face shortages of blood products (PS). Several factors are responsible for this, including transfusion-transmissible infections (ITT) and deficiencies in the transfusion system. This study aims to determine the prevalence and the various reasons for rejection at the blood bank of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé. We first conducted a retrospective study at the blood bank of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé for 12 months between January 01, 2014 and December 31, 2014.Secondly, we carried out a prospective study in October 2015. Five milliliters (05 ml) of venous blood were taken from each participant in a tube without anticoagulant; patient samples were stored at -24°C. A rapid screening test and ELISA were used to test for HIV, HCV, HBs and syphilis on the samples taken. Approximately 15,028 bags of whole blood were drawn in 2014, of which 3,688 bags were rejected. This equates to a rejection rate of 24.54%. Discards for non-infectious reasons represented 3.51% and rejections for infectious reasons 21.03%. During the prospective study, among those selected, there were 95.74% men and 4.26% women. The average age of the participants was 30 years. Among the 705 people in this investigation, 185 blood bags were rejected. Infectious causes represented 22.55% (Hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis with a respective prevalence of 9.08%, 0.71% 6.95% and 5.82%) and nonOriginal Research Article Bernard; IBRR, 11(2): 15-22, 2020; Article no.IBRR.57155 16 infectious causes represented 3.68 % (clots, insufficient volume of PST, hemolysis and expiration with a respective prevalence of: 1.84%, 0.71 0.14% and 0.99%).The association between rejection of blood bags and qualitative variables was assessed. There emerged a significant association between the risk of rejection of a blood bag and the type of donor; condom use, number of partners, history of STIs. At the Yaoundé Central Hospital blood bank, the reasons for rejecting blood bags are divided into two categories: Mainly infectious and non-infectious. Also, certain risk variables such as not using a condom, multiple sexual partners and a history of STIs are risk factors that can encourage rejection of blood bags.