Gesundheitswesen 2017; 79(08/09): 656-804
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605851
Vorträge
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Seroprevalence and conversion of cytomegalovirus in a large group of healthy, German blood donors

F Kowalzik
1   University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Pediatric Department, Mainz
,
D Lautz
2   Institute for Medical Biometrics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
,
I Hoffmann
2   Institute for Medical Biometrics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
,
W Hitzler
3   Transfusion Center, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
,
S Runkel
3   Transfusion Center, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
,
M Marron
4   Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie – BIPS, Epidemiologische Methoden und Ursachenforschung, Fachgruppe Molekulare Epidemiologie, Bremen
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
01 September 2017 (online)

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Background:

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of congenital diseases. Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to transfusion transmitted CMV infections. To avoid such complications, the changing status of CMV infection among blood donors is still a matter of ongoing discussion.

Methods:

Serum immunoglobulin G levels were quantified in 234,192 blood donations obtained from 44,782 donors using a commercial chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay. A computer algorithm was developed to classify the final CMV-status of the blood donors. CMV seroprevalence and the rate of conversion were examined over a 3-year period with a mean of 5.2 samples per donor. The impact of sex and age on CMV seroconversion were determined by logistic regression analyses. The influence of age on seroconversion was analyzed using two separate generalized additive models, one for men and the other for women. Age was modelled by cubic splines with two degrees of freedom.

Results:

Significant percentages of all female (40.1%) and male (35.1%) blood donors tested seropositive with an overall seroprevalence of 37.5% (N = 16,779). A total of 177 seroconversions (0.4%) were identified, 83 (0.19%) and 94 (0.21%) cases in the female and male donor groups, respectively. Age as well as sex was a risk factor for CMV infection. In men, the highest rate of seroconversion occurred in the 30- to 39-year age-range; women did not experience a similar peak in conversion rate.

Conclusion:

In accordance with the results of other studies, both sex and age influence the risk of CMV infection. The high rate of seroprevalence and seroconversion of CMV among German blood donors supports the combined use of leukocyte-reduced and CMV-negative blood products to limit the risk of transfusion transmitted CMV infections in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. It has to be clarified whether DNA- or antibody-screening is the best way to identify infectious donors.