Infectious Diseases Screening for Deceased Organ Donors: A Regional Survey From Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation...

Data on deceased donor infectious diseases screening practices across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are limited, despite regional variation in transplant systems, diagnostic capacity, and cross-border organ sharing.

We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey from August to December 2025 among infectious diseases physicians involved in solid organ transplantation across GCC countries. The survey assessed respondent characteristics, donor screening and consultation practices, perceived barriers, proposed interventions, and free-text responses. Likert-scale items were summarized using mean ± standard deviation; free-text responses were reviewed qualitatively.

Thirty-three infectious diseases physicians completed the survey, corresponding to an estimated response rate of 66%. Most respondents were adult infectious diseases physicians (91%). Reported practices varied: 49% reported standardized written donor-screening protocols, while infectious diseases consultation before donor acceptance occurred always in 33% and often in 30%. The highest-ranked barriers were lack of standardized regional or national guidance, insufficient infection-specific training for transplant coordinators, and absence of structured donor-derived infection reporting systems. Priority interventions included structured donor-derived infection reporting, improved rapid diagnostic capability, standardized donor screening protocols, and earlier infectious diseases involvement. Open-ended responses highlighted gaps in pending microbiology follow-up, post-procurement notification, communication, multidisciplinary donor clearance, and diagnostic workflows.

This GCC-wide survey identifies perceived gaps in deceased donor infectious diseases risk assessment and highlights priorities for strengthening donor screening, communication, rapid diagnostics, coordinator training, and donor-derived infection reporting. Prospective evaluation is needed to determine whether these interventions improve donor utilization, transmission prevention, and transplant safety.