The challenge of COVID-19 and hematopoietic cell transplantation; EBMT recommendations for management of hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, their donors, and patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2020 Nov;55(11):2071-2076. doi: 10.1038/s41409-020-0919-0. Epub 2020 May 13.

Abstract

The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread over the world causing the disease by WHO called COVID-19. This pandemic poses unprecedented stress on the health care system including programs performing allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy such as with CAR T cells. Risk factors for severe disease include age and predisposing conditions such as cancer. The true impact on stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell recipients in unknown. The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) has therefore developed recommendations for transplant programs and physicians caring for these patients. These guidelines were developed by experts from the Infectious Diseases Working Party and have been endorsed by EBMT's scientific council and board. This work intends to provide guidelines for transplant centers, management of transplant candidates and recipients, and donor issues until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accreditation / organization & administration
  • Allografts
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Continuity of Patient Care
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / prevention & control
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Delivery of Health Care / standards*
  • Europe
  • Health Personnel
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / methods
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Infection Control / standards*
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / prevention & control
  • Office Visits
  • Pandemics* / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / prevention & control
  • Procedures and Techniques Utilization
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine
  • Tissue Donors
  • Transplant Recipients
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Visitors to Patients