Trends in prevalence of HIV and syphilis in a central blood bank of Veracruz, Mexico

Syphilis and HIV infections continue to threaten the safety of blood banks in countries where altruistic donations are rare. The aim of this study of blood donors to the Centro Estatal de la Transfusion Sanguinea de Veracruz (Mexico) was to determine changes in the prevalence of syphilis and HIV, and to identify factors associated with these infections. A total of 109,054 blood donors were retrospectively analyzed from 2007 to 2014, Serological screening of blood units was performed, and demographic data were collected from clinical records to identify risk factors. The prevalence of Treponema pallidum was 1.4% and that of confirmed HIV was 0.11%. The main risk factors for HIV positivity were age of 18 to 24 years-old, being unmarried, and being an employee or student. The main risk factors for syphilis positivity were being a widow or divorced, being over 35 years-old, having a low level of education, and being a driver, fisherman, or trade worker. There were high prevalences for both infections in southeast Veracruz, where females and males had equal probabilities of each infection. Strengthening of education programs on sexually transmitted diseases for young people may help to prevent new and congenital infections.