Syphilis seroprevalence and incidence in US blood donors from 2020 to 2022

Abstract

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.

Keywords: blood safety; incidence; prevalence; syphilis; transfusion-transmitted infections.

Figure 1.

Syphilis Consensus Positive and Active Infection Prevalence PHT Donations in TTIMS2, October 2020 to September 2022