Solid Organ Transplant Centers Research Articles

Survey of pediatric transplant center practices regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates for transplant candidates and living donors and use of COVID-19-positive deceased organs.

COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for individuals ages ≥6 months; however, whether vaccination should be mandated for transplant candidates and living donors remains controversial. This study assessed COVID-19 policies at US pediatric solid organ transplant centers. A 79-item survey was emailed between March and April 2022 to 200 UNOS Medical Directors detailing center COVID-19 vaccine policies for transplant candidates and living donors and use of grafts from COVID-19-positive deceased donors. The response rate was 77% (154/200). For children aged 5-15 years, 23% (35/154 centers) have a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, 27% (42/154) anticipate implementing a future mandate, and 47% (72/154) have not considered or do not anticipate implementing a mandate. For children ≥16 years, 32% (50/154 centers) have a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, 25% (39/154) anticipate implementing a future mandate, and 40% (62/154) have not considered or do not anticipate implementing a mandate. The top two reasons for not implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate were concerns about penalizing a child for their parent's decision and worsening inequities in transplant. Of 85 kidney and liver living donor centers, 32% (27/85) require vaccination of donors. Twenty percent (31/154) of centers accept organs from COVID-19-positive deceased donors. There is great variation among pediatric SOT centers in both the implementation and details of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for candidates and living donors. To guide more uniform policies, further data are needed on COVID-19 disease, vaccine efficacy, and use of grafts from donors positive for COVID-19 in the pediatric transplant population.

Mpox Perceptions and Vaccine Advocacy among the Healthcare Workers of Solid Organ Transplant Centers: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

In response to the global Mpox outbreaks, this survey aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and advocacy of Mpox vaccines among solid organ transplant healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among solid organ transplant HCWs in Saudi Arabia from 15 August to 5 September 2022. A total of 199 responses were received from participants primarily working in the kidney (54.8%) and liver (14.6%) transplant units. The survey found that most participants were aware of the 2022 Mpox outbreak, but the majority were more concerned about COVID-19 than Mpox. While the majority of participants thought laboratory personnel and HCWs in direct contact with Mpox patients should receive the vaccine, less than 60% believed that all HCWs should be vaccinated. Additionally, over half of the participants lacked knowledge of animal-human transmission of the virus. The results highlight the need for increased education on Mpox among transplant HCWs in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding the virus's transmission dynamics and vaccines. This education is crucial to improve HCWs' understanding of this emerging disease, especially given their vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Practices on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Transplant Candidates

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created unprecedented challenges for solid organ transplant centers worldwide. We sought to assess an international perspective on COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rationales for or against mandate policies. We administered an electronic survey to staff at transplant centers outside the United States (October 14, 2021-January 28, 2022) assessing the reasons cited by transplant centers for or against implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Each responding center was represented once in the analysis. Respondents (N=90) represented 27 countries on five continents. Half (51%) of responding transplant center representatives reported implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, 38% did not, and 12% were unsure. Staff at centers implementing a vaccine mandate cited efficacy of pretransplant vaccination versus post-transplant vaccination, importance for public health, and minimizing exposure of other patients as rationale for the mandate. Of centers with a mandate, the majority (81%) of the centers mandate vaccination regardless of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection status and regardless of prevaccination spike-protein antibody titer or other markers of prior infection. Only 27% of centers with a vaccine mandate for transplant candidates also extended a vaccine requirement to living donor candidates. Centers not implementing a vaccine mandate cited concerns for undue pressure on transplant candidates, insufficient evidence to support vaccine mandates, equity, and legal considerations. The approach to pretransplant COVID-19 vaccination mandate policies at international transplant centers is heterogeneous. International transplant centers with a vaccine mandate were more willing to extend vaccine requirements to candidates' support persons, cohabitants, and living donors. Broader stakeholder engagement to overcome vaccine hesitancy across the world is needed to increase the acceptance of pretransplant COVID-19 vaccination to protect the health of transplant patients.

Brazilian perspective: antimicrobial stewardship in solid organ transplant.

The incidence of multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) infections among solid organ transplant (SOT) patients is very high in Brazil. This review will discuss antimicrobial use and resistance in SOT in Brazil, highlighting the main barriers and facilitators for implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP). The most common group of MDROs is carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) are the most frequent MDROs and have been reported as donor-derived as well. Although ASPs are mandatory in the country, there is a lack of information regarding ASPs in SOT recipients. The main barriers for the implementation of ASPs in Brazilian hospitals are lack of electronic medical records, absence of national guidelines specific to SOT recipients, lack of recommendations on surveillance culture to evaluate colonization and transmission of donor-derived MDROs, limited availability of rapid diagnostic tests, and insufficient pharmacist and clinician time allocated to ASP activities in some SOT centers. The incidence of MDRO infections caused mainly by VREs and CREs is very high in the country. There is limited data regarding antimicrobial use among SOT recipients in Brazil. The absence of antimicrobial stewardship national guidelines specific to SOT recipients is one of the main barriers for the implementation of ASPs in Brazilian hospitals.

Survey of current transplant center practices regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the United States

An electronic survey canvassing current policies of transplant centers regarding a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for transplant candidates and living donors was distributed to clinicians at US solid organ transplant centers performing transplants from October 14, 2021–November 15, 2021. Responses were received from staff at 141 unique transplant centers. These respondents represented 56.4% of US transplant centers, and responding centers performed 78.5% of kidney transplants and 82.4% of liver transplants in the year prior to survey administration. Only 35.7% of centers reported implementing a vaccine mandate, while 60.7% reported that vaccination was not required. A minority (42%) of responding centers with a vaccine mandate for transplant candidates also mandated vaccination for living organ donors. Centers with a vaccine mandate most frequently cited clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of pre-transplant vaccination (82%) and stewardship obligations to ensure organs were transplanted into the lowest risk patients (64%). Centers without a vaccine mandate cited a variety of reasons including administrative, equity, and legal considerations for their decision. Transplant centers in the United States exhibit significant heterogeneity in COVID-19 vaccination mandate policies for transplant candidates. While all centers encourage vaccination, most centers have not mandated COVID-19 vaccination for candidates and living donors, citing administrative opposition, legal prohibitions, and concern about equity in access to transplants.

476. A Global Survey of Countermeasures Against the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Solid Organ Transplant Centers

BackgroundSolid organ transplantation (SOT) profoundly impacts vulnerable recipients with chronic end organ diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems, including organ transplants. We aimed to evaluate the responses of SOT centers to COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic around the world.MethodsWe conducted a web-based survey amongst transplant centers, sent to members of The American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice Group, between April and May 2020. The survey included basic information of each transplant center (number and types of transplants in 2019), the countermeasures employed against COVID-19 such as timing of postponing of transplantation, and management of outpatient clinics including implementation of telemedicine and screening for in-person visits.ResultsA total of 65 centers from 19 countries responded (Table 1). Regarding the percentage of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at the time of the survey, 39 (60%) centers reported < 10%, two centers reported > 80%. All centers reduced their services to some extent as shown in Table 2. Centers reported postponing living donor kidney transplant (50/58, 86%), deceased donor kidney transplant (20/57, 35%), living donor liver transplant (32/42, 80%), deceased donor liver transplant (17/41, 41%), lung transplant (20/31, 65%), heart transplant for LVAD (18/33, 55%) and non-LVAD patients (18/33, 55%). In March and April 2020, cancellation of pre- and post- transplant clinics were reported by 36/64 (56%) and 17/65 (26%) centers. Postponing clinic appointments were reported by 56/65 (86%) centers. Most institutions (54/64, 85%) used telemedicine. Screening for COVID-19 for clinic visits was done by telephone, in-person questionnaires and/or temperature checks. ConclusionDuring the early phase of the pandemic, when management strategies were highly uncertain, non-urgent and living donor transplants were frequently postponed. Emergent liver transplants continued regardless. These findings could help us navigate SOT in future epidemics. Limitations included a small sample and lack of assessment of clinical outcomes from postponing SOT. Disclosures Deepali Kumar, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Astellas (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Speakers’ bureau; Atara Biotherapeutics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support; GSK (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant, Grant/Research Support; Merck (Individual(s) Involved: Both Myself and my Spouse/Partner): Advisor or Review Panel member, Grant/Research Support; Oxford immunotec (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant, Grant/Research Support; Pfizer (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Speakers’ bureau; Roche (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant, Grant/Research Support; Sanofi (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Advisor or Review Panel member; Shire/Takeda (Individual(s) Involved: Both Myself and my Spouse/Partner): Advisor or Review Panel member, Grant/Research Support Lara Danziger-Isakov, MD, MPH, Ansun (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Scientific Research Study Investigator; Astellas (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Scientific Research Study Investigator; Merck (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator; Pfizer (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Scientific Research Study Investigator; Shire (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator; Viracor: Grant/Research Support

Burnout, professional fulfillment, and post-traumatic stress among pediatric solid organ transplant teams.

Adverse effects of clinician burnout have been studied across multiple specialties; however, there have been no studies examining rates of burnout among pediatric solid organ transplant teams. This study aimed to measure burnout, work exhaustion, professional fulfillment, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among clinicians and administrators practicing in this high-stress field. This cross-sectional study utilized a 50 item web-based survey that included the Personal Fulfillment Index and the IES-R. This survey was distributed across four pediatric solid organ transplant centers in North America. Basic demographics, clinician characteristics, and information regarding wellness and self-care activities were collected. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed. One hundred and thirty five participants completed the survey, 76% were female and 78% were Caucasian. One-third (34%) of participants endorsed burnout, while 43% reported professional fulfillment. Approximately 15% of respondents endorsed clinically significant levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms related to patient deaths, with female clinicians more likely to endorse symptoms (p=.01). Nearly 80% of participants reported engaging in self-care activities outside of work and only 10% of participants reported participation in hospital-sponsored wellness programs. Pediatric solid organ transplant team members exhibited moderate levels of burnout, professional fulfillment, and post-traumatic stress. Female clinicians were the most likely to experience both work exhaustion and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Transplant centers are encouraged to consider interventions and programming to improve clinician wellness.

Understanding Substance use Policies and Associated Ethical Concerns: A survey of Pediatric Transplant Centers.

Psychosocial risk factors, such as substance use, have been linked to poor post-transplant outcomes for solid organ transplant patients, including poor medication adherence, increased risk for rejection, and even graft failure. Despite universal consensus that substance use is an increasing problem among youth, many pediatric transplant centers do not have policies in place to address substance use and no universal guidelines exist regarding assessment during the pre-transplant evaluation in this population. An online survey was administered via REDCap™ and directed toward medical leaders (ie, medical and surgical directors) of national heart, kidney, and liver transplant centers. Questions examined the following: perspectives on the need for a universal transplant center policy on pediatric substance use, abuse, and dependence; timing and frequency of evaluation for substance use; specific substances which would elicit respondents' concerns; and ethical concerns surrounding substance use. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data were collected from 52 respondents from 38 transplant centers, with the majority (n=40; 77%) reporting no substance use policy in place for pediatric transplant patients. However, many endorsed concerns if a pediatric patient was found to be using specific substances. Our findings further highlight the need for a universal substance use policy across pediatric solid organ transplant centers. The results from the distributed survey will help to provide guidelines and best practices when establishing a universal policy for substance use.

Vascularized composite allotransplantation in the United States: A retrospective analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data after 5years of the Final Rule.

On July 3, 2014, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) began overseeing vascularized composite allotransplantation/allografts (VCA) in the United States. For the past 6years, centers performing VCAs have been requested to submit data into a biometric repository, in parallel with systems used by solid organ transplant centers. Currently, 62 VCAs are reported in the entire OPTN database, with 36 of these transplants reported as performed after VCA was added to the OPTN Final Rule. Of these 36 recipients, 16 received uterus transplants, most of which (11) occurred from living donors. Ten patients received hand transplants and 6 received face transplants. Two patients received abdominal wall transplants, 1 patient received a scalp transplant, and 1 patient received a penile transplant. The present manuscript represents the query of a nationalized database for VCA type, immunosuppression treatment, and clinical outcomes for VCAs. This manuscript provides a report of the current VCA data reported to the OPTN after the Final Rule.

The evolving role of regulatory reporting on patient and donor selection in organ transplantation.

To describe the historical and evolving role of quality oversight in the field of transplantation. The review highlights of the prior use and effects of oversight of solid organ transplant centers and discusses potential ramifications of changes for the field. There have been a number of studies illustrating unintended consequences associated with regulatory oversight. Although the intent of oversight to ensure safety and high quality of care, research highlights the potential deleterious effects of policies that do not consider the complexities and effects on practice, patient selection and utilization of donor organs in this field. Recent amendment of policy by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) highlight the recognition and prominence of these concerns and potentially expand opportunities for transplantation prospectively. The historical development and implementation of regulatory reporting in transplantation is unique and the oversight imposed on transplant organizations is particularly high compared with other healthcare contexts. The effects of recent CMS policy changes and any related developments from other regulators and payers will be important to evaluate in the years to come.

Most pediatric transplant centers are low volume, adult-focused, and in proximity to higher volume pediatric centers

BackgroundIndependent studies provide evidence that low volume pediatric solid organ transplant centers have inferior outcomes compared to high volume pediatric centers. The study assessed whether patients treated at low volume pediatric centers have access to higher volume pediatric centers, which offer potentially better outcomes. MethodsWe analyzed center specific data on 467 pediatric solid organ transplant centers in the U.S using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database from 2002 to 2014. The proximities of low volume pediatric centers to high volume pediatric centers were determined using Maptive, a tool based on Google Maps. ResultsMost low volume pediatric transplant centers focused on transplantation of adults (84% heart, 83% liver, and 93% kidney programs). A majority of low volume pediatric centers (77% for heart, 53% for lung, 68% for liver and 90% for kidney) were within 150 miles of high volume centers. Among all children listed for transplantation, 30.7% were listed in low volume pediatric centers. Most low volume pediatric centers are adult focused and near high volume pediatric centers. ConclusionWe need greater scrutiny of outcomes, particularly waitlist outcomes, of low volume pediatric solid organ transplant centers located close to high volume pediatric solid organ transplant centers. Type of Study and Level of EvidenceRetrospective Comparative Study, Level III.

Current State of Antimicrobial Stewardship at Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Centers in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To assess the extent of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) at solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) centers in the United States. DESIGN An 18-item voluntary survey was developed to gauge current antimicrobial stewardship practices in transplant patients, examine the availability and perceived usefulness of novel diagnostics and azole levels to guide therapy, and identify challenges for implementation of ASPs at these centers. PARTICIPANTS The survey was distributed electronically to infectious disease physicians and pharmacists at adult and pediatric SOT and HCT centers during May 1-22, 2015. Facilities were deidentified. RESULTS After duplicate removal, 71 (56%) of 127 unique transplant centers in 32 states were analyzed. Forty-four sites (62%) performed at least 100 SOT annually, and 40 (56%) performed at least 100 HCT annually. Top 5 stewardship activities encompassing transplant patients were formulary restriction, guideline development, prospective audit and feedback, education, and dose optimization. Respiratory viral panels (66/66 [100%]), azole levels (64/66 [97%]), and serum/bronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan (58/66 [88%]) were perceived as most useful to guide therapy. Apparent challenges to antimicrobial stewardship included undefined duration for certain infections (53/59 [90%]), diagnostic uncertainty (47/59 [80%]), the perception that antibiotic-resistant infections required escalation (42/59 [71%]), prescriber opposition (41/59 [69%]), and costly drugs (37/59 [63%]). CONCLUSIONS ASP activities were performed at many adult and pediatric SOT and HCT centers in the United States. Diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainty in transplant patients is challenging for ASPs. Collaborative research should examine the impact of antimicrobial stewardship practices in SOT and HCT. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1-6.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Centers

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Centers

Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Pediatric Liver Transplant: One Center's Experience

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a ubiquitous virus responsible for acute infections of the respiratory tract in patients of all ages. RSV presents significant health risks to immunocompromised patients. Two patients, 1 before a liver transplant and 1 after a liver transplant, died of a severe RSV infection. Because of the high risk of death, we recommend expanding the criteria for palivizumab prophylaxis to 2 types of patients: (1) patients with chronic liver disease or who have received a liver transplant and are 24 months old or less and (2) transplant recipients with underlying pulmonary conditions who are less than 36 months old. Further research is indicated in pediatric solid-organ transplant centers to evaluate the effective management of RSV infection to prevent morbidity.

Screening recipients of increased‐risk donor organs: a survey of transplant infectious diseases physician practices

In 1994, the Public Health Service published guidelines to minimize the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and to monitor recipients following the transplantation of organs from increased-risk donors. A 2007 survey revealed the post-transplant surveillance of recipients of organs from increased-risk donors (ROIRD) is variable. An electronic survey was sent to transplant infectious diseases physicians at US solid organ transplant centers. A total of 126 surveys were sent to infectious diseases physicians, and we received 51 (40%) responses. We found that 22% of respondents obtain only verbal, 69% verbal and written, and 8% do not obtain any special consent from ROIRD, despite an Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network policy requiring such consent. Post-solid organ transplantation serologies for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are performed by 6-8% of respondents in all recipients, by 69% of respondents in ROIRD only, and 25% of respondents do not perform them at all. Post-transplant nucleic acid testing is carried out by 55-64% of respondents in ROIRD, by 0-2% in all recipients, and not performed by 35-43% of respondents. Screening RIORD for HIV, HBV, and HCV has increased since 2007, but remains less than optimal and is incomplete when screening for disease transmission at many centers.

Cardiac Complications Following Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation: Evaluation of Risk Factors, Outcomes and Enhanced Screening for At Risk Populations.

AbstractAbstract 3070Life-threatening cardiac events following allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT) are not uncommon at 5–12.5% of patients. While BMT programs perform screening EKGs and ejection fraction measurements, solid organ transplant centers follow a risk stratification screening algorithm to assess for coronary artery disease (CAD) which includes stress tests and as indicated, angiography in those with 2 or more risk factors. It is currently unknown whether this algorithm should be applied in the BMT setting. Methods:We performed a retrospective review of 296 patients who underwent allogeneic BMT at Loyola University Medical Center 2007–2011, to assess cardiac events using the solid organ transplant advanced screening criteria: age over 60 or over 40 with peripheral vascular disease or diabetes and then divided patients into low risk (one CV risk factor) and high risk groups (greater than one CV risk factor). Risk factors included age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, family history of CAD, and obesity according to the Framingham risk assessment score for CAD. Cardiac events during the first year post-transplant were recorded including CHF, myocardial infarction (MI), and symptomatic arrhythmias. One hundred day and 1-year Kaplan-Meier survival for high and low risk patients were determined and curves compared by log-rank tests. A multivariate analysis of the various prognostic factors was performed using the Cox regression model. Results:Of the 296 total allografts, 116 patients (39%) fit the solid organ transplant criteria for advanced screening; 62% were male (n = 72) and the mean age was 60.6 (range 40–72). Graft source was evenly distributed between siblings (42%), unrelated (39%) and cord blood (28%). Acute myeloid leukemia was the most common indication for BMT at 40%, followed by MDS (21%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16%), and CLL (10%). Of the 116, 21 were considered low risk (1 risk factor), while 95 were high risk (2+ risk factors). Low risk and high risk groups did not differ in disease type (p = 0.43), graft source (p = 0.81), or graft type (p = 0.54). Surprisingly, both high and low risk patients had a similar incidence of cardiac events of 36% and 48%, respectively. This correlated to comparable 100-day and 1 year survival rates. To determine the importance of cardiac complications on outcome and whether there were other risk factors for complications we analyzed those with a complication. Forty-four cardiac events occurred in the first year after transplant in 38 (33%) patients. Cardiac events included arrhythmias (n = 33), new onset CHF (n = 6), and MI (n = 5). Median time to event was 16 days post-transplant. Symptomatic arrhythmias included atrial fibrillation (n = 27, 82%), supraventricular tachycardia (n = 5, 15%) and sustained ventricular tachycardia (n =1, 3%). Median age for patients with cardiac events was 62.7 years, compared to 59.6 for patients who experienced no cardiac events (hazard ratio estimate: 1.076; p = 0.02). As compared to patients with no post-transplant cardiac events, both the 100 day and 1 year survival rates of patients with cardiac events were lower with one year survival of 21% vs. 63% (p < 0.0001). Evaluating risk factors, 3 were significant: donor source with MUD donors the highest hazard (p = 0.04); age, with cardiac events occurring at a rate twice as high in patients greater than age 60 (n = 27, 36.5% vs. n = 6, 19.4%), and with all five cases of myocardial infarction and 5/6 new CHF diagnoses occurring in patients aged 60 or greater; and patients with a history of atrial fibrillation demonstrated a higher probability of developing a cardiac event post-transplant (p = 0.02). Conclusions:In this analysis, we saw a much higher incidence of post-BMT cardiac events (33%) than previously reported, although we focused only on at risk patients using the solid organ screening algorithm (pts > 40 with significant risk factors or all pts > 60). As mortality rates at 100 day and 1 year are higher for patients who suffer a post-BMT cardiac event, and only graft source, age and prior atrial fibrillation marked patients at a very high risk, this data indicates that it is appropriate to investigate prospectively the solid organ transplant algorithm in all allogeneic BMT patients > age 40, with low cardiac risk or any patient > 60 with stress tests and as indicated, cardiac catheterization. Whether this will decrease events and thereby improve survival remains to be determined by prospective studies. [Display omitted] Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis: A survey of pediatric solid organ transplant centers

RSV can cause respiratory illness after SOT, yet preventive recommendations are lacking for this population. To ascertain current preventive practices against RSV disease in pediatric SOT candidates and recipients, a survey was developed. The survey was mailed to 108 SOT programs in the United States (liver, 42; heart, 28; lung, 11; intestinal, 25; and heart-lung, 2). Results were tabulated and analyzed using standard methods. Sixty-two percent (67/108) of surveys were completed. Forty-nine percent (33/67) of programs reported using RSV prophylaxis; palivizumab was used at 97% (32/33) of centers with 26 giving palivizumab to candidates and 27 to recipients. Prophylaxis was provided to infants aged 0-12 months by 27/29 (93%) of responding centers; 23/29 of centers extended its use to infants aged 0-24 months. Three centers gave prophylaxis to children between ages two and four yr and two centers for those over four yr. RSV prophylactic strategies, and in particular the use of palivizumab, are employed by almost 50% of responding pediatric SOT centers. Strategies varied at centers based on age and organ type. Data on RSV hospitalization and outcome are needed to refine approaches to RSV immunoprophylaxis in these high-risk patients.

Pediatric Transplant Rating Instrument – A scale for the pretransplant psychiatric evaluation of pediatric organ transplant recipients

Although the majority of pediatric solid organ transplant centers in the United States employ psychosocial criteria to assess the suitability of potential transplant candidates, there are no standardized pretransplant psychosocial assessment measures. Assessment scales that have been developed were designed for adult transplant recipients and are not suitable for use in the pediatric population. The P-TRI was developed to address this gap in the pediatric pretransplant psychosocial evaluation. It is intended to identify areas of psychosocial vulnerability that may be associated with poor treatment adherence and to facilitate the development of informed and focused psychosocial interventions for pediatric patients before and after transplant surgery. Items on the rating instrument were generated based on a review of the major correlates of treatment adherence in the pediatric population. Data are currently being collected for further reliability and validity analyses.

Cyclosporine Monitoring

Cyclosporine is an important immunosuppressive agent in organ and bone marrow transplantation. The pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine are quite complex and are complicated by the availability of two assay systems that yield differing results. This article summarizes the views from two major solid organ transplant centers and one bone marrow transplant center on important cyclosporine monitoring questions. A general consensus exists in the four areas discussed that: (1) cyclosporine concentrations must be monitored due in part to the extreme variability in kinetics, (2) either blood or plasma can be used in monitoring programs, (3) the radioimmunoassay or high pressure liquid chromatography can be used in routine monitoring, and (4) the interpretation of cyclosporine concentrations must be performed in relation to patient variables that affect drug response and toxicity.

Significant morbidity associated with RSV infection in immunosuppressed children following liver transplantation: Case report and discussion regarding need of routine prophylaxis

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. In immunocompromised children, RSV infection poses a serious health threat with significantly increased and prolonged virus shedding and the development of severe respiratory disease. We report two patients, eight months and 20 months of age, who were admitted with severe RSV infection two months and 10 months post-transplant respectively. Major risk factors for severe infection is the degree of immunosuppression and the age of the patient (<24 months). Based on the significant morbidity associated with RSV infection in these patients, we recommend randomized trials in larger pediatric solid organ transplant centers to evaluate the use of palivizumab prophylaxis is efficacious to prevent morbidity in patients under the age of 24 months, while we emphasize good hygienic practices to prevent RSV nosocomial infection.