[Prevalence of blood-borne pathogens among 275 trauma patients : A prospective observational study]

Previous studies have indicated that the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections among trauma patients seems to be higher compared to the general population.

This study investigated the seroprevalence of blood-borne pathogens among patients with suspected severe multiple trauma in a German university hospital (level I trauma center).

Routine blood samples taken from trauma patients at the university hospital Frankfurt were tested for HBV, HCV and HIV (from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2015).

Overall, 275 patients with a median injury severity score (ISS) of 9 points (range 0-54) were included in the study representing 84.4 % of all trauma room admissions during this time period. Altogether 3.3 % (n = 9) of the patients were infected with blood-borne pathogens, where 7 patients were infected with HCV and 2 patients had an active HBV infection. None of the patients were tested HIV positive and only one initial diagnosis for HCV was made. A further six samples (five HCV and one HIV) showed a weak reaction in the screening assay that could not be verified by the confirmatory assay.

To the best of our knowledge this study is the first report on the prevalence of blood-borne infections among trauma patients at a level I trauma center in an urban area in Germany. Compared to the general population the prevalence of blood-borne infections was higher but considerably lower than indicated in previous international studies. Considering the broad implications of occupationally transmitted blood-borne infections occupational safety is of paramount importance.