An Overview of COVID-19 in solid organ transplantation

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  • Bartelt, Luther
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
  • van Duin, David
    • Affiliation: School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
Abstract
  • Background The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the field of solid organ transplantation (SOT) in many ways. COVID-19 has led to programmatic impacts and changes in donor and recipient selection. Several studies have evaluated the course, optimal treatment, and prevention of COVID-19 in SOT recipients. Objective To review the literature on COVID-19 in SOT recipients. Sources PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. The search was restricted to articles published between January 1, 2019, and December 1, 2021. Content The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to a decreased volume of solid organ transplants. However, transplant volumes at most centers have rebounded. Donor selection remains an incompletely defined issue. Several reports suggests that donor-derived SARS-CoV-2 infections occur only in lung transplant recipients, and that other organs from SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive donors could potentially be safely used. However, these data are limited to case series. Transplantation for end-stage lung disease after COVID-19 infection is increasingly common and has been performed with acceptable outcomes. In acute COVID-19 in a transplant candidate, transplantation should be delayed when feasible. After adjustment, mortality after COVID-19 appear similar in SOT recipients as compared to the general population, with notable increased use of anti-viral and anti-inflammatory treatment options. Prevention of COVID-19 is key in SOT recipients. Vaccination of SOT recipients and anyone who is in contact with SOT recipients is one of the cornerstones of prevention. Non-pharmacological interventions such as face coverings, hand hygiene, and physical distancing remain ever important as well. Implications The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an important impact on SOT candidates and recipients. Prevention of infection is the most important measure, and requires careful attention to approaches to vaccination, and messaging of the ongoing need for face coverings, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
Journal title
  • Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Language
  • English
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  • Postprint
ISSN
  • 1198-743X

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