Community-acquired bacterial infections S337

infection was non erosive/non deforming in 76% of the patients. Type IIcryoglobulins and, decreased levels of C4/C3 were detected in 37%and 48%/22% of the patients with CPIA associated to HCV infection,respectively.Conclusions: An increased prevalence of HCV infection exists inpatients presenting with chronic peripheral inflammatory arthritis. HCVantibodies (3rd generation ELISA) overestimates the prevalence of HCVinfection in those patients. A search for HCV infection should beperformed in the diagnostic process of both inflammatory arthritis andcollagen vascular diseases.

P1228 Seroprevalence of blood-borne infections among blooddonors in Boushehr, Iran

Hossein Esmaeili, Z. Hamidiya, S. Mirlatifi, A. Mankhian, G. Hajiyani,Hassan Esmaeili, M. Azizzadeh (Tehran, Boushehr, IR)

Background and Objectives: In recent years there have been specialinterest in the donor selection strategies in blood banks in order toprovide safer blood supply. Important steps are exclusion of paid andreplacement donation and increase in the number of regular donors. Inthis survey the seroprevalence of blood-borne infections among regular,sporadic (lapsed) and first-time blood donors were compared (fromMarch 2005 to February 2005).Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study the prevalence oftransfusion transmitted infections was compared among regular, sporadic(lapsed) and first-time blood donors of Boushehr city. The total of 19,627blood donors donated blood during March 2005 to February 2005 inBoushehr; out of this number, 7,282 were regular donors (37.1%), 728sporadic donors (3.7%), and 11,617 first-time donors (59.18%). Datawere collected from the computerised data source of Boushehr BloodTransfusion Center and were then compared by the Chi-square statisticaltest.Results: Out of 7,282 regular donors, 6 (0.082%) were HBsAg positive,6 (0.08%) were HCV-Ab reactive, and all were HIV-Ab negative.Whereas, out of 728 sporadic donors one (0.13%) was HBsAg positive,and all were HCV-Ab and HIV-Ab negative. Out of 11,617 first-timeblood donors, 65 (0.55%) were HBsAg positive, 41 (0.35%) HCV-Abreactive. and 3 (0.02%) were HIV-Ab reactive. The prevalence of blood-borne infections (hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV) was less in regularthan sporadic and first-time blood donors. P value of HBsAg factorwas p = 0.0000 for regular and first-time donors, also P value of HCV-Ab factor was p = 0.0004 for regular and first-time donors that thesedifference were significant.Conclusions: Regular blood donation is one of the important steps inblood safety; hence, retention of regular donors, and awareness-raisingand recruitment of sporadic and first-time donors can increase the rateof regular donation leading in turn to higher blood safety.

Community-acquired bacterial infections

P1229 New concerns with human brucellosis in France in thebeginning of the 3rd millenium

A. Mailles, B. Garin-Bastuji, M. Maurin, V. Vaillant (Saint Maurice,Maisons-Alfort, Grenoble, FR)

Context: Human brucellosis is mandatorily notifiable in France. Due to aveterinary policy based on stamping out and vaccination carried out sincethe 1970s, France is considered “officially brucellosis free” for cattlesince 2005 and no cases have been identified in sheep nor goats since2003. In this context, we studied human brucellosis diagnosed in Franceto assess remaining risk factors and make specific recommendations.Methods: Our descriptive study included all human cases notified inmainland France from 1st June 2002 to 31st May 2004. A case wasdefined as any patient with clinical signs consistent with brucellosis.A confirmed case had a bacterial isolation from any biological sample,or a fourfold increase in anti-Brucella antibodies in 2 samples takenat 2-week interval or a seroconversion. A probable case had a single

elevated titre in anti-Brucella antibodies and no alternative diagnosis.For all patients, data were collected using a standardised questionnaire.Results: During the 2-year period of the study, 105 patients were notified,including 72 cases and 26 false cases who did not meet the casedefinitions’ criteria. The annual incidence of human brucellosis was 0.05cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Of all cases, 32% had localised infections,mainly arthritis. The disease was diagnosed by bacterial isolation in 49cases (65%). Eighty percent of cases were imported, having been infectedwhile travelling in an enzootic country or by eating raw milk productsimported from an enzootic country. The countries where cases weremost frequently contaminated were Portugal (n = 14), Algeria (n = 7)and Turkey (n = 6). Cases had more frequent contacts with animalsin enzootic countries than false cases (p = 0.05) and had eaten morefrequently raw milk products from enzootic countries than false cases(p = 0.004). One case had a laboratory acquired brucellosis.Conclusions: Our study confirmed the efficiency of the veterinary policyagainst animal brucellosis. The incidence of human brucellosis hasdramatically decreased and most cases are now imported. Consideringthe very low prevalence of brucellosis, the direct diagnosis must bepreferred to serology to avoid false cases. Recommendations are madeto increase the specificity of the surveillance, such as modifying thecase definition and consider only bacterial isolation and the increase ofserological titre as reliable tests. Specific recommendations are made toprevent the increase of laboratory acquired cases.

P1230 Risk factors for human brucellosis in Iran:a case−control study

M. Soofian, A. Ramezani, M. Banifazl, M. Mohraz, A.A. Velayati,A. Aghakhani, A. Eslamifar (Tehran, IR)

Objective: Brucellosis is a health problem in the central province ofIran (Arak city). The major aim of the present study was to evaluate therisk factors for acquiring brucellosis in Arak.Methods: A matched case–control study was conducted in the centralpart of Iran. A total of 300 subjects (150 cases and 150 controls) wereenrolled in our investigation. Brucellosis cases were defined on the basisof epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory criteria using the StandardTube Agglutination (STA) test and 2-mercaptoethanol agglutination.Subjects were interviewed using a standard questionnaire acquiringdemographic and risk factor information. Data were analysed calculatingthe odds ratio and the confidence intervals for the studied variables. Aconditional logistic regression model was used to explore the associationbetween disease and the studied variables.Results: The age of patients varied between 2 and 86 years (mean:33.37±21.3 years); 55.3% were males. There were no significantdifferences in age, gender, marriage situation, residence area (rural/urban), education level, knowledge about prevention routes of brucellosisand occupation between case and control subjects. There was nostatistically significant correlation between acquisition of brucellosis,infertility and abortion in sheep and cattle kept at home. Significantrisk factors for infection related to existence of (an)other case(s)of brucellosis at home (OR= 7.55; CI: 3.91–14.61; P< 0.0001) andconsumption of unpasteurised dairy products (OR= 3.7; 95%CI:1.64−8.3; P< 0.014). Knowledge of the mode of brucellosis transmissionby fresh cheese appeared to be protective against disease transmission(OR= 0.44; CI: 0.23–0.85; P = 0.01).We observed significant difference about keeping infected cattle, numberof cattle in the house, cattle vaccination, positive family history ofbrucellosis, number of infected members in household, rate of relapsein family between case and control subjects (P< 0.05).Conclusion: It is concluded that pasteurisation of dairy products andeducation regarding fresh cheese must be pursued for eradication ofhuman brucellosis from rural areas. The greatest risk factor for acquiringbrucellosis is existence of infected family members.