RESUMO
PIP: A partnership began in 1994 between United Against AIDS International (UAAI) of New York and Accion Ciudadana Contra el SIDA (ACCSI) of Venezuela has led to the development of a volunteer infrastructure including medicine and medical supply donors, airlines, truck drivers, customs officials, storage facilities, and medical personnel to bring treatment to people with AIDS (PWA) in Venezuela. Renate Koch, ACCSI director, began bringing medications home to Venezuela in early 1994, following a visit to New York City, where she met with representatives of ACT UP], the Global Network of People with AIDS, and other New York-based HIV/AIDS associations. Hugh Ward, who founded UAAI to provide HIV/AIDS drugs to PWA in Venezuela, later met with Koch and several other nongovernmental organizations in Caracas. Ward explained that most unused medicines and treatments given to people with AIDS in the US are thrown away after the patient has died or when the patient's health condition demands an alternate treatment. A network of New York-based AIDS organizations and doctors' groups now collects the medicines returned to them by PWA for donation to the medicine bank program. Once the medicines are received in Caracas, they are stored at Accion Ecumenica health clinic for distribution to PWA. While there is always a need for more medicines and supplies, the current network is able to back-stock enough quantities to ensure that patients will receive consistent and sustained treatment. Limited quantities of retrovirals and protease inhibitors are included in the medicine bank.^ieng
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida , Infecções por HIV , Cooperação Internacional , Organização e Administração , Organizações , Preparações Farmacêuticas , Terapêutica , Instituições Filantrópicas de Saúde , Voluntários , América , Comportamento , Países Desenvolvidos , Países em Desenvolvimento , Doença , Economia , Administração Financeira , América Latina , New York , América do Norte , América do Sul , Estados Unidos , Venezuela , VirosesRESUMO
Screening of blood product donations for antibody to HIV began in Mexico in May 1986. From June to October 1986, the HIV cumulative seroprevalence increased from 6.3 to 9.2% in a commercial plasma collection center. Of the 281 people who donated the antibody-positive units, 62 (22.1%) had documented seroconversion during these 5 months. An epidemiologic study of 54 seropositive and 58 seronegative donors was carried out. The HIV serologic status did not change in any of these donors after repeat testing. Only 13.0% of the seropositives and 15.5% of the seronegatives had any of the known risk factors for AIDS. There was a direct relationship between frequency of plasma donation and the risk of being seropositive. A survey of employees disclosed the frequent re-use of disposable blood collection equipment. We conclude that HIV transmission had probably occurred in this plasma collection center.
PIP: This report provides the results of a study of plasma donor clients from records abstracted between June-October 1986. The purpose was to identify risk factors for HIV infection among donors at the National Center for Blood Transfusions. Screening for HIV among donors began in May 1986. 54 Seropositive donors were identified and located from 281 and 58 seronegative donors were randomly selected. 16 employees of the plasma collection center were locatable and also included in the study. The results were that seroprevalence increased between June-October from 6.3% to 9.2%. The total donations were 3201 of which 294 were seropositive. Of 281 seropositive clients, 62 (22%) had seroconversion (a prior seronegative donation). Seroconversions increased from 1.6% in July to 50% in October. On retesting of the 112 study participants, no change in status was found. The groups were similar and both groups had relatively low risk factors for (13% for HIV seropositive and 15.5% for HIV seronegative donors). The rate of seropositivity increased with the frequency of plasma donations from 19.6% for those donating 1-3 times/month to 88.9% for those donating 10 times/month. Of the 16 employees, 1 died who was HIV seropositive; 5 were directly involved in plasma collection and reported reuse of saline solution and intravenous tubing. The results lead the authors to suggest that HIV was transmitted in the collection process. Support for this suggestion comes from the number of seroconversions; the risk factors among the seropositive donors had no known risk factors. Although not statistically significant, male seropositive donors had greater contract with prostitutes in Mexico City, but prostitutes had shown in the past 2 years a seropositivity rate of 1%. More demonstrative evidence comes from the increased rate of seropositivity with frequency of donation, and the employee reports of reutilization of blood collection materials. Other studies have postulated plasma donor site risk. Regardless of the expense of intravenous equipment, it is suggested that the risk of HIV transmission precludes reuse of materials. At present, all blood is collected from volunteer donors with disposable equipment. Other countries need to assess the safety of blood donor centers, particularly with paid donors.