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Global epidemiology of occult hepatitis B virus infections in blood donors, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Guy Roussel TakuissuSebastien KenmoeMarie Amougou AtsamaEtienne Atenguena OkobalembaDonatien Serge MbagaJean Thierry Ebogo BeloboArnol Bowo-NgandjiMartin Gael OyonoJeannette Nina Magoudjou-PekamGinette Irma Kame-NgasseElisabeth Zeuko'o MenkemAbdel Aziz Selly NgaloumoAgnès Thierry Rebecca BanlockAlfloditte Flore FeudjioCromwel Zemnou-TepapDowbiss Meta-DjomsiGilberte Louise Nyimbe MvienaInes Nyebe EloundouJacqueline Félicité YénguéJosiane Kenfack-ZanguimJuliette Laure Ndzie OndiguiRidole Martin Zekeng MekontchouSabine Aimee Touangnou-ChamdaYrene Kamtchueng TakeuJean Bosco Taya-FokouChris Andre Mbongue MikangueRaoul Kenfack-MomoCyprien Kengne-NdéSeraphine Nkie EsemuRichard NjouomLucy Ndip
Published in: PloS one (2022)
This study aimed to assess the global prevalence of occult hepatitis B in blood donors. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, and Excerpta Medica Database. Study selection and data extraction were performed by at least two independent investigators. Heterogeneity (I2) was assessed using the χ2 test on the Cochran Q statistic and H parameters. Sources of heterogeneity were explored by subgroup analyses. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42021252787. We included 82 studies in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of OBI was 6.2% (95% CI: 5.4-7.1) in HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive blood donors. Only sporadic cases of OBI were reported in HBsAg negative and anti-HBc negative blood donors. The overall prevalence of OBI was 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1-0.4) in HBsAg negative blood donors. The prevalence of OBI was generally higher in countries with low-income economic status. The results of this study show that despite routine screening of blood donors for hepatitis B, the transmission of HBV by blood remains possible via OBI and/or a seronegative window period; hence there is a need for active surveillance and foremost easier access to molecular tests for the screening of blood donors before transfusion.
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