Serum samples from 128 blood donors were tested for antibodies specific for human herpesvirus-8 by an immunofluorescence assay that detects antibodies against mainly lytic antigens. An overall seroprevalence of 56.25% was found (male donors, 54.68%; female donors, 57.11%). These findings indicate that human herpesvirus-8 infection is hyperendemic in Peruvian blood donors.

A survey of the seroprevalence of pertussis antibodies in a representative sample of the population from Catalonia was carried out. Ninety-seven municipalities and 30 schools were randomly selected to recruit the 2126 subjects who participated in the study. A serum sample was obtained from all individuals participating in the study in order to determine levels of pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antibodies by ELISA test. Sociodemographic data were collected for all subjects. The prevalence of PT antibodies was 75% and that of FHA antibodies 89%. Significant increments were observed with age, both in the prevalence of PT (P < 0.0001) and of FHA (P = 0.018). Of the sociodemographic variables studied, only urban habitat was significantly associated to PT antibodies. The agreement observed among the two types of antibodies studied was weak (K = 0.264). Routine revaccination with the acellular vaccine in children over 7 years of age, in adolescents and adults seems a reasonable strategy to prevent the appearance of cases of pertussis in the community.

Hemos comparado las prevalencias de grupos sanguíneos entre los pacientes que acudieron al Servicio de Emergencia del Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (Lima, Perú) durante el mes de abril de 1991 con diarrea aguda severa con aislamiento de Vibrio cholerae en los coprocultivos, con la de un grupo control conformado por los donantes del Banco de Sangre del mismo hospital, apareados por distritos de residencia. La prevalencia de grupo sanguíneo O entre los 136 pacientes con coprocultivos positivos (todo a V. Cholerae O1 biotipo Inaba) fue de 94.9% mientras que entre los 544 controles fue de 79.2% (similar a la reportada en otros estudios sobre prevalencia de grupos sanguíneos en nuestra población).Aunque el diseño del estudio tiende a subestimar el real riesgo relativo, encontramos un riesgo relativo estimado de 4.832 (IC95=2.196, 10.628) de presentar diarrea aguda severa por V.cholerae entre las personas con grupo sanguíneo O (p<0.00002). Queda por descubrir la base fisiopatológica de esta asociación y el impacto que puede tener en la morbilidad y mortalidad de la presente epidemia de cólera en el Perú, país con alta prevalencia de grupo sanguíneo O.

Background Peru experienced a crisis in its blood collection and supply system in the mid-2000s, as contaminated blood led to several transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI), occurring in the backdrop of extremely low voluntary donation rates and a national blood supply shortage. Thus, the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA) implemented a national investigation on the safety and quality of the Peruvian blood collection/transfusion network. Methods Every Peruvian blood bank was evaluated by MINSA from 2007–2008. These evaluations consisted of an update of the national registry of blood banks and visits to each blood bank from MINSA oversight teams. Information was collected on the condition of the blood bank personnel, equipment, supplies, and practices. Further, previously-collected blood at each blood bank was randomly selected and screened for TTI-causing pathogens. Results Uncovered in this investigation was a fragmented, under-equipped, and poorly-staffed blood collection and transfusion network, consisting of 241 independent blood banks and resulting in suboptimal allocation of resources. Further, blood with evidence of TTI-causing pathogens (including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis) and set for transfusion was discovered at three separate blood banks as part of the random screening process. Conclusion Using the successful reorganizations of national blood supply systems in other Latin American countries as examples, Peru would be well-served to form large, high-volume, regional blood collection and transfusion centers, responsible for blood collection and screening for the entire country. The small, separate blood banks would then be transformed into a network of blood transfusion centers, not responsible for blood collection. This reorganization would allow Peru to better utilize its resources, standardize the blood collection and transfusion process, and increase voluntary donation, resulting in a safer, more abundant national blood product.

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