PROLONGED COLONIZATION AND COISOLATION OF SARS-COV-2 IN UNVACCINATED RECIPIENTS OF LUNG TRANSPLANTS

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Pulmonary Issues in Transplantation Case Report Posters SESSION TYPE Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON 10/19/2022 1245 pm - 0145 pm INTRODUCTION: We describe two unvaccinated lung transplant recipients (LTRs) with mild COVID-19 and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 colonization who presented with recrudescence of symptoms due to superinfection. CASE PRESENTATION Case 1 A 57-year-old LTR (August 2018) presented to the emergency room (ER) in July 2020 with headache, positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab-PCR result, and elevated D-Dimer. He recovered at home and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on day 28. He presented to the ER again in October 2020 with chest pain. At this time, evaluation revealed a positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab-PCR result, positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG (index 3.41), leukocytosis, and elevated inflammatory markers. Of note, nasopharyngeal swab was also positive for rhinovirus. Imaging showed new mild bibasilar ground-glass opacities. Patient was treated with remdesevir, convalescent plasma, and pulse corticosteroid. His SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was negative on day 3 of the remdesevir regimen;he remains clear of SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus to date, with complete clinical and radiologic recovery (Figure 1, Case 1). His immunosuppression was unchanged. Case 2 A 75-year-old LTR (July 2016) with pancytopenia presented for a sick visit in May 2020 with cough and fever. His SARS-CoV-2 nasal wash-PCR test was positive;imaging was unremarkable. He was sent home on pulse corticosteroid and levofloxacin. A week later in June 2020, he presented to the ER with worsening cough. At this time, evaluation revealed positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG (index 7.58), leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated inflammatory markers, and new radiographic bibasilar ground-glass opacities (Figure 1, Case 2). His condition improved with intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids. He consistently tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in nasal wash samples for 3 months, with the first negative test in September 2020. He was hospitalized in January 2021 for neutropenic fever, P. Aeruginosa (PsA) infection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and anti-PsA antibodies in the serum. At this time, he also had SARS-CoV-2 colonization in BAL despite negative PCR results of nasal wash samples. His condition improved with 14 days of antibiotics. He was stable at his last follow-up. DISCUSSION: Both patients had an initial episode of mild COVID-19 pneumonitis, appropriate seroconversion, and prolonged viral colonization in the respiratory tract. Immunosuppression may have predisposed to rhinovirus and PsA superinfection in case 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspicion for superimposed infections in LTRs recovering from COVID-19 is warranted. Reference #1 1. Hogan JI, Kotton CN. A Call for Caution in the Immunocompromised Coronavirus Disease 2019 Associated With Mortality in a Vaccinated Lung Transplant Recipient. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 Nov 10;8(12)ofab557. DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Hesham Abdelrazek No relevant relationships by Ashwini Arjuna No relevant relationships by Bhuvin Buddhdev No relevant relationships by Deepika Razia No relevant relationships by Rajat Walia, value=Honoraria Removed 04/04/2022 by Rajat Walia No relevant relationships by Rajat Walia, value=Honoraria Removed 04/04/2022 by Rajat Walia No relevant relationships by Rajat Walia, value=Honoraria Removed 04/04/2022 by Rajat Walia No relevant relationships by Rajat Walia, value=Honoraria Removed 04/04/2022 by Rajat Walia No relevant relationships by Rajat Walia, value=Honoraria Removed 04/04/2022 by Rajat Walia