Early Experiences With COVID-19 Testing in Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplant Surgery
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Transplantation programs faced dramatic disruptions due to COVID-19, with over 75% suspended or restricted.
• Understanding COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in transplant recipients, donors, and healthcare workers is vital for resuming services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and associated mortality.
• To assess the risk of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients, deceased donors, and healthcare workers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests in kidney transplant recipients and end-stage renal disease patients (n=235).
• Review of screening tests in deceased donors (n=27) and donors, candidates, and healthcare workers (n=253).
• Data collected from February 23 to April 15, 2020, across multiple health systems and organizations.

Main Results:

• Low COVID-19 rates (0%-1%) were observed among screened donors and healthcare workers.
• Higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests (17%-20%) were found in patients with end-stage renal disease or kidney transplants.
• Significant mortality (7%-13%) was reported among transplant patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 presents a substantial and ongoing threat to the transplant population.
• Continuous data collection and reporting are essential for guiding transplant protocols during and after the pandemic.
• Findings underscore the need for vigilance and adaptive strategies in managing transplant care amidst infectious disease outbreaks.