Donor Derived Transmissions 2020: Analysis of the OPTN Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) with a Focus on COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The OPTN DTAC, a multidisciplinary group, evaluates potential donor derived transmission events (PDDTE) to assess the likelihood of disease transmission. Method(s) Retrospective study of PDDTE cases reported to the OPTN between 01/20 and 12/20. DTAC reviewed cases using a standardized classification algorithm. Result(s) During 2020, there were 18,318 donors and 37,583 unique recipients. DTAC reviewed 261/427 PDDTE from donor (111) or recipient (150) findings. 64/261 (25%) donors had proven/probable transmission (P/P Tr) of infection, malignancies or other to 84/206 (41%) exposed recipients [figure]. 12 involved living donors. Infection occurred with 44/64 P/P cases affecting 63 recipients. Viruses were most frequent P/P infections with 29 recipients having P/P Tr from 19 donors. COVID-19 PDDTE represented 11% (29/261) of all cases reviewed involving 29 donors and 15 lung and 76 non-lung recipients. One lung recipient had P/P Tr and died;none of the non-lung recipients developed P/P Tr. For bacteria, 20 recipients had P/P Tr from 14 donors. Deaths from infection (N=10) occurred at a median of 20 days (5-89 days). Attributable death was highest for fungal (4/12, 33%) and bacterial infections (6/20, 30%). 7 donors with malignancies were classified as P/P impacting 15 recipients with 1 attributable death. 53 non-infection, non-malignancy PDDTE were reported;13 resulted in P/P Tr to 14 recipients. Conclusion(s) Although P/P events remain rare, 1/4 reviewed cases resulted in unanticipated P/P Tr. This is a conservative estimate due to passive reporting and empiric interventions. In 29 COVID-19 PDDTE only 1 lung recipient had P/P Tr. The DTAC continues to evaluate PDDTE to maximize organ use and minimize the risk of transmission. (Table Presented).