Best practices during COVID-19 pandemic in solid organ transplant programs in Spain

Area of Science:

• Transplantation Medicine
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to clinical management in solid organ transplantation.
• Disruptions included altered patient-provider relationships, infection control, treatment protocols, and research activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and compile best practices in transplantation based on experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To create a compendium for knowledge exchange among transplant units.

Main Methods:

• An expert panel standardized 30 best practices across different phases of transplantation and communication.
• Areas covered include pre-transplant, peritransplant, and post-transplant periods, as well as training and communication.

Main Results:

• Nine pre-transplant, seven peritransplant, and eight post-transplant best practices were identified.
• Six best practices focused on training and communication, encompassing networking, telematic approaches, and patient care strategies.

Conclusions:

• The developed best practices offer a framework for optimizing transplant care in the face of evolving health crises.
• Strategic healthcare plans are crucial for vulnerable transplant populations, especially considering suboptimal vaccine responses.