Lessons from SARS-CoV-2 screening in a Brazilian organ transplant unit.
Tainá Veras de Sanders FreitasIvelise Regina Canito BrasilMaria Luíza de Mattos Brito Oliveira SalesMarina Seixas Studart E NevesÍtalo Rossy Sousa PimentelLucianna Auxi Teixeira Josino da CostaRonaldo de Matos EsmeraldoPublished in: Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society (2020)
Protecting immunosuppressed patients during infectious disease outbreaks is crucial. During this novel coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, preserving "clean areas" in hospitals assisting organ transplant recipients is key to protect them and to preserve transplantation activity. Evidence suggests that asymptomatic carriers might transmit the SARS-CoV-2, challenging the implementation of transmission preventive strategies. We report a single-center experience using universal SARS-CoV-2 screening for all inpatients and newly admitted patients to an Organ Transplant Unit located in a region with significantly high community-based transmission.