Transplantation Direct (Jul 2020)

Early Experiences With COVID-19 Testing in Transplantation

  • Brian J. Boyarsky, MD,
  • Allan B. Massie, PhD,
  • Arthur D. Love, BS,
  • William A. Werbel, MD,
  • Christine M. Durand, MD,
  • Robin K. Avery, MD,
  • Kyle R. Jackson, MD, PhD,
  • Amber B. Kernodle, MD, MPH,
  • Alvin G. Thomas, MSPH,
  • Matthew Ronin, BA,
  • Michelle Altrich, PhD,
  • Patricia Niles, BS, RN,
  • Chad Trahan, BSN,
  • Jonathan Hewlett, BA,
  • Dorry L. Segev, MD, PhD,
  • Jacqueline M. Garonzik-Wang, MD, PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001024
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 7
p. e572

Abstract

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Background. The early effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on transplantation are dramatic: >75% of kidney and liver programs are either suspended or operating under major restrictions. To resume transplantation, it is important to understand the prevalence of COVID-19 among transplant recipients, donors, and healthcare workers (HCWs) and its associated mortality. Methods. To investigate this, we studied severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 diagnostic test results among patients with end-stage renal disease or kidney transplants from the Johns Hopkins Health System (n = 235), and screening test results from deceased donors from the Southwest Transplant Alliance Organ Procurement Organization (n = 27), and donors, candidates, and HCWs from the National Kidney Registry and Viracor-Eurofins (n = 253) between February 23 and April 15, 2020. Results. We found low rates of COVID-19 among donors and HCWs (0%–1%) who were screened, higher rates of diagnostic tests among patients with end-stage renal disease or kidney transplant (17%–20%), and considerable mortality (7%–13%) among those who tested positive. Conclusions. These findings suggest the threat of COVID-19 for the transplant population is significant and ongoing data collection and reporting is critical to inform transplant practices during and after the pandemic.