Environmental Monitoring of Parvovirus B19 in the Kidney Transplantation Ward of a Chinese Teaching Hospital

Ensuring Transfusion Safety: Screening Blood Donors for Human Parvovirus B19

Ensuring the safety of blood and blood products is a vital aspect of healthcare. The potential for transmission of pathogens through blood and blood products makes transfusion safety a significant concern. Despite advancements in testing methodologies, donated blood products still pose a risk for infection transmission. Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a small, single-stranded, non-enveloped DNA virus transmissible parenterally by blood transfusion. B19V causes a wide range of clinical manifestations, which is generally harmless in healthy individuals. B19V infection may cause severe complications, such as aplastic crises, as it affects erythrocyte progenitor cells in individuals with increased erythrocyte turnover. Additionally, B19V can be transmitted from pregnant women to their foetus, potentially causing hydrops fetalis and foetal death. The potential for transmission through blood and blood products makes B19V a significant concern for transfusion safety. In response to the growing recognition of B19V's impact on transfusion safety, various international health organisations have introduced guidelines to minimise its transmission through blood and plasma products. However, the implementation of these guidelines varies globally, with some regions, such as India, still lacking formal protocols for B19V monitoring. This review article explores the existing methodologies for screening blood donors for B19V, assesses the associated transfusion risks, and considers the implications for public health and clinical practice. By emphasising advancements in diagnostic techniques and the challenges of their implementation, this article provides a comprehensive overview of efforts to reduce the transmission of B19V through blood transfusions, thereby ensuring safer blood supplies and improved patient outcomes.

Occurrence of Human Viruses on Fomites in the Environment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Documenting the occurrence of viruses on fomites is crucial in determining the significance of fomite-mediated transmission and the potential use of fomites for environmental disease surveillance. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compile information on the occurrence of human viruses on fomites in the environment; we identified 134 peer-reviewed papers. We compiled sampling and measurement methods, results, quality control information, and whether virus data were compared with community health data from the papers. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate if presence of virus on fomites was associated with virus type (enveloped, nonenveloped), sampling location (healthcare setting, nonhealthcare temporary setting, nonhealthcare nontemporary setting), and area of fomite swabbed (<50, 50-100, >100 cm2). Across 275 data sets from the 134 papers, there was the most data available for Coronaviridae and from fomites at hospitals. Positivity rates, defined as the percent positive fomite samples, were low (median = 6%). Data were available on viruses from 16 different viral families, but data on viruses from 9 families had few (n < 5) data sets. Many human virus families were not identified in this review (11 families). Less than 15% of the data sets reported virus concentrations in externally valid units (viruses per area of surface), and 16% provided a quantitative comparison between virus and health data. Virus type and area swabbed were significant predictors of virus presence on fomites, and the positivity rate of data sets collected from healthcare settings and nonhealthcare nontemporary settings (e.g., individual housing) were significantly higher than those collected in nonhealthcare temporary settings (e.g., restaurants). Data from this review indicates that viruses may be present on fomites, that fomite-mediated virus transmission may occur, and that fomites may provide information on circulation of infectious diseases in the community. However, more quantitative data on diverse viruses are needed, and method reporting needs significant improvements.