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BACKGROUND: HIV, HBV, and HCV infections for ~60% of the US blood supply are monitored by TTIMS with syphilis added in 2020. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were compiled from October 2020 to September 2022. Syphilis prevalence was estimated for allogeneic and directed donors who were consensus positive (CP) and the subset of those with confirmed-active infections (AI). Prevalence and incidence were stratified by demographics for two consecutive 1-year periods, starting October 1, 2020 and for both years combined. Incidence was estimated for repeat donors. Associations between syphilis positivity and other infections were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 14.75 million donations, syphilis prevalence was 28.4/100,000 donations and significantly higher during the second year compared to the first year. Overall, syphilis incidence for the two-year period was 10.8/100,000 person-years. The adjusted odds of a CP infection were 1.18 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.26) times higher in the second year compared to the first, and for AI, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.35) times higher in year 2. Highest rates occurred among males, first-time, Black, and younger (ages 18-39) donors, and those in the South US Census region. Syphilis CP donors were 64 (95% CI: 46, 89) times more likely to be HIV CP, and AI donors 77 (95% CI: 52, 114) times more likely to be HIV CP than non-CP donors, when controlling for confounders. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS: Syphilis prevalence increased over the study period mirroring national trends reported by CDC and is significantly associated with HIV CP.

BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated low first-time donor return rates (DRR) following catastrophic events. Little is known, however, about the influence of demographic factors on the DRR of first-time donors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the unique motivation of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) donors as compared to non-CCP donors.Study design and methodsThirteen blood collection organizations submitted deidentified data from first-time CCP and non-CCP donors returning for regular (non-CCP) donations during the pandemic. DRR was calculated as frequencies. Demographic factors associated with returning donors: race/ethnicity, gender, and generation (Gen Z: 19-24, Millennial: 25-40, Gen X: 41-56, and Boomer: ≥57 years old), within the CCP and non-CCP first-time cohorts were compared using chi-square test at p

Background: Transfusion‐transmissible infection (TTI) prevalence among US blood donors has been widely documented. Here we estimate the prevalence of donors presenting with ≥2 TTIs (multiple infections past or present referred to as coinfections) and describe their demographics and associations. Methods: Data from the Transfusion‐Transmissible Infections Monitoring System were compiled for October 2020–September 2023 (3 years). Prevalence per million donations (pmd) was calculated for each TTI coinfection combination with demographic characteristics summarized. The odds of each TTI coinfection combination were estimated using logistic regression. Reactivity by NAT and/or serology (HIV, HBV, and HCV) defined donors as consensus positive (CP) for each infection while serology‐based algorithms defined syphilis CP and the subset with active syphilis infections (ASIs). Results: About 22 million donations were included, with 212 coinfections (9.7 pmd). Around 2% of donations positive for any TTI (n = 10,516) were coinfections. Coinfection prevalence per TTI combination ranged from 0.3 pmd for HIV CP and HCV CP, to 4.3 pmd for HIV CP and syphilis CP. There were high proportions of coinfections from donors who were male, aged 25–54 years, white or black, first time, and residing in the southern US Census Region. The odds of a second TTI occurring in an individual donor with a TTI ranged from 23 (95% CI: 13, 41) times more likely for HBV CP and ASI to 395 (95% CI: 298, 524) times more likely for HIV CP and ASI. Conclusions: Coinfections are relatively uncommon among blood donors in the United States; however, associations exist among HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic impacted the US blood supply. We compared blood donor demography and infectious disease prevalence before and during the pandemic using a large multicenter database. Methods: Data were categorized as "Before COVID‐19" (March 2018–February 2020) or "During COVID‐19" (March 2020–February 2022). Donor demographics, donation frequency, and infectious marker prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV were compared for the two time periods. The odds of a donor testing positive for these infections among the two time periods were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Our study assessed a total of 26,672,213 donations including 13,430,380 before and 13,241,833 during COVID‐19. There were significantly more donations from donors who were female, aged 40 and older, white, and repeat, during COVID‐19. Donation frequency comparison quantified the increase in donations from donors who were white, female, older, and repeat during the pandemic. The prevalence of HIV and HCV decreased significantly during COVID‐19 compared to before, but not for HBV. For HIV, the adjusted odds of infection during the pandemic did not differ but for HBV, the odds were significantly more likely during the pandemic and were significantly lower for HCV. Discussion: Demographics and infectious disease marker prevalence changed during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States. Prevalence of each infection in the donor population will continue to be monitored to determine if changes were specific to the pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: US blood donors are tested for syphilis because the bacterial agent is transfusion transmissible. Here we describe trends over an 11-year period of donations positive for recent and past syphilis infections, and donations classified as syphilis false positive (FP)., Methods: Data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2023 (11 years) were compiled for all American Red Cross blood donations to evaluate demographics/characteristics and longitudinal trends in donors testing syphilis reactive/positive. The prevalence of recent, past, and total (combination of recent/past) infections were evaluated, along with syphilis FP donations. Classification was based on known serological methods using treponemal and non-treponemal tests., Results: Approximately 53 million donations were included with 10,365 total syphilis infections (3463 recent and 6902 past; 0.02% total) and 48,719 FP (0.09%). Donor demographics, characteristics, and HBV/HCV/HIV nucleic acid testing reactivity differed among syphilis-positive and FP compared with nonreactive donations. Donors with a FP donation had high rates of subsequent donations testing syphilis positive (0.3%) and FP (7.7%). Median time from first FP to subsequent FP was observed to be 3.6 months. Recent infections increased over the 11 years, with past infections peaking in 2014 followed by increases in 2021-2023 paralleling recent infections. Repeating cycles of seasonal FP spikes occurred in the fall of 2013 and from 2017 to 2022 corresponding with vaccine administrations., Conclusions: Syphilis infections in blood donors are trending upward, paralleling US population trends. Syphilis FP donors had high rates of subsequent FP and unexplained syphilis-positive donations. Seasonal syphilis FP spikes occurred for most years but are trending downwards., (© 2025 AABB.)

Introduction: To assess the impact of primary and secondary therapies for high- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQoL)., Materials and Methods: A prospective study was initiated in 2007 at Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database sites. Longitudinal patterns in HRQoL from baseline (pre-treatment) to 5 years post-diagnosis were examined for patients with high- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Change in HRQoL was modeled using linear regression models fit with generalized estimating equations. The probability of maintaining HRQoL was compared between patients receiving RP only versus RP with secondary treatment., Results: Of 445 men with high- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, 228 underwent RP and 143 had EBRT± androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Fifty received secondary therapy (EBRT and/or ADT or chemotherapy) after RP. RP patients showed a greater decline over time in sexual function and bother and urinary function compared to EBRT±ADT patients. Patients who had secondary therapy after RP were less likely to maintain their HRQoL compared to those who had RP alone. These differences were most pronounced for sexual and hormonal function., Conclusions: Prostate cancer patients experience significant declines in HRQoL after primary therapy. Additional secondary therapy after RP, in the form of EBRT and/or ADT, appears to be responsible for further deterioration in HRQoL outcomes.