SARS-CoV-2: Impact on, Risk Assessment and Countermeasures in German Eye Banks

Trigaux, Celine, Salla, Sabine, Schroeter, Jan, Tourtas, Theofilos, Thomasen, Henning, Maier, Philip, Hellwinkel, Olaf J. C., Wittmershaus, Ilka, Merz, Patrick R., Seitz, Berthold, Noelle, Bernhard, Schrage, Norbert, Roters, Sigrid, Apel, Melissa, Gareiss-Lok, Andrea, Uhlig, Constantin E., Thaler, Sebastian, Raber, Florian, Kampik, Daniel, Geerling, Gerd and Menzel-Severing, Johannes . SARS-CoV-2: Impact on, Risk Assessment and Countermeasures in German Eye Banks. Curr. Eye Res.. PHILADELPHIA: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. ISSN 1460-2202

Full text not available from this repository.

DOI:10.1080/02713683.2020.1828487

Abstract

Introduction Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been some debate regarding the risk of transmission through tissue transplantation and tissue banking processes. Aim of the study To analyze the changes that SARS-CoV-2 has caused regarding the harvesting of corneal donor tissue and eye bank activities in Germany. Methods A questionnaire was provided to 26 eye banks in Germany, consisting of questions about adaptations made in the screening of potential donors and the harvesting of corneal tissue following the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2. Results Eighteen eye banks actively reduced recruitment of donors and two banks ceased all activity. Additional diagnostic screening was performed in eight banks, using conjunctival swabs and/or nasopharyngeal swabs. In six eye banks, additional protective measures, such as FFP2 masks and/or facial shields, were implemented. Overall, a mean reduction in the number of obtained donor tissues of 17% was observed. Discussion Conjunctival and/or nasopharyngeal swabs of donors have been implemented by a minority. Reasons for not performing additional tests may be moderate sensitivity and lack of validation for postmortem use of RT-PCR testing. Also, the hazard of SARS-CoV-2 entering the corneal donor pool with subsequent transmission might be perceived as theoretical. Face shields provide a sufficient barrier against splash and splatter contamination but may be insufficient against aerosols. Additional face masks would provide support against aerosols, but it remains debatable if corneal harvesting can be considered an aerosol-producing procedure. In the future we expect to see changes in current guidelines because of a surge in scientific activities to improve our understanding of the risks involved with cornea donation in the COVID-19 pandemic, and because current practice may reduce the availability of donor corneas due to new exclusion criteria while the demand remains unchanged.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Creators:

Creators	Email	ORCID	ORCID Put Code
Trigaux, Celine	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Salla, Sabine	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Schroeter, Jan	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Tourtas, Theofilos	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Thomasen, Henning	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Maier, Philip	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Hellwinkel, Olaf J. C.	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Wittmershaus, Ilka	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Merz, Patrick R.	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Seitz, Berthold	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Noelle, Bernhard	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Schrage, Norbert	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Roters, Sigrid	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Apel, Melissa	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Gareiss-Lok, Andrea	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Uhlig, Constantin E.	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Thaler, Sebastian	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Raber, Florian	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Kampik, Daniel	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Geerling, Gerd	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Menzel-Severing, Johannes	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED