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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 79(5), 2008, pp. 803-808
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Prevention of Blood-borne Diseases in Bolivia, 1993–2002

Gabriel A. Schmunis*, Gloria Rodriguez, Jan Coenen, Enrique Gil Bellorin, AND Alberto Gianella
Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, DC; Regional Blood Bank, Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Pan American Health Organization, Guatemala City, Guatemala; National Center for tropical Diseases, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

This report shows the outcome of a coordinated effort by locals, foreign institutions, and an international agency, from 1996–2002, aimed at preventing transmission of blood-borne diseases in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. From 2001–2002, testing the donor pool for HIV prevented transfusion of 32 infected units and 29 infections. With 100% screening coverage, 196 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected units were discarded, and 177 infections of HBV were prevented between 1999 and 2002. Incomplete screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) may have tainted nine units of blood and generated eight HCV infections in 1999. On the other hand, 600 units infected with HCV were discarded, and 540 HCV infections were prevented between 1999 and 2002. Screening for Chagas disease prevented transfusion of 10,661 tainted units and 2,133 infections from 1999 to 2002. From 1996–2002, the investment was US$1,108,000.

Received May 6, 2008. Accepted for publication July 28, 2008.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Roxane Salvatierra for editing the manuscript.

* Address correspondence to Gabriel A. Schmunis, 4256 Warren Street NW, Washington, DC 20016. E-mail: gabriel.schmunis{at}gmail.com

Authors’ address: Gabriel Adrián Schmunis, Communicable Diseases Unit Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, 525 23rd St., NW, Washington, DC 20037, Tel: 1-202-974-3272, Fax: 1-202-974-3688. Gloria Rodriguez, Banco Regional de Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Tel/Fax: 591-3333-2070, E-mail: glorihemato{at}hotmail.com. Jan Coenen, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, Tel: 32-03-2476237, E-mail: jcoenen{at}itg.be. Enrique Gil Bellorin, Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana Edificio ETISA, Plazuela España 7 ma Avda 12–23, Zona 9 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, E-mail: gilenriq{at}gut.ops-oms.org. Alberto Gianella, Centro Nacional de Enfer-medades Tropicales Casilla de Correo, 2974 Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Tel: 591-3354-2006, E-mails: algianella{at}gmail.com or algianella{at}cotas.com.bo.

Reprint requests: Enrique Gil Bellorin, Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Ancon, Avenida Gorgas, Edificio 261, 2do piso, Casilla Postal 0843-03441, Ciudad de Panama, Panama, E-mail: gilenriq{at}pan.






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