A Q Fever Outbreak in the Netherlands: Consequences for Tissue Banking

BACKGROUND: Emerging infectious diseases can compromise the safety of tissues for transplantations. A recent outbreak of Q fever, a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, in the Netherlands compelled the Dutch tissue banks to assess the risk of Q fever transmission through tissue transplantation in order to maintain optimal safety. MATHODS: This article describes the systematic approach that was followed in the Netherlands. This approach included a review of the literature, a qualitative risk assessment, expert opinion gathering and investigations for specific strategies that can help to maintain the balance between tissue safety and availability. RESULTS: This resulted in a specific donor selection policy and in development of further research to fill in gaps in knowledge about Q fever in tissue transplantation. CONCLUSION: The strategy described in this article may be useful for tissue bankers facing similar outbreaks of emerging infections or may be useful for development of future guidelines or assessment strategies for tissue banking.