Outcomes of Ongoing Living and Cadaveric Kidney Transplantations within the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Referral Centers.

PURPOSE: To present the early to midterm experience of two referral kidney transplantation centers with living and deceased kidney transplantations that were performed within the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases performed in two referral centers in Iran within the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. Transplantations were performed from May 2020 to February 2021. The protocol for screening included nasopharyngeal RT-PCR with chest CT scan for living and deceased transplantations in center A and RT-PCR for living transplantations and chest CT scan for deceased transplantations in center B. Patients were followed for 14-26 months after transplantation regarding COVID-19 infection and its outcomes in case of infection. RESULTS: 103 kidney transplantations were performed during the study period including 54 (52.4%) living and 49 (47.6%) deceased kidney transplantations. Twenty-four recipients (23.3%) and a living donor (1%) were infected with COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 infection was mild, moderate, severe, and critical in 16 (66.6%), 4 (16.6%), 2 (8.4%), and 2 patients (8.4%), respectively. Two mortalities were observed within transplantation recipients with COVID-19 infection (1.9%). 87.5% (7/8) COVID-19 infections in center B were observed in recipients of deceased transplantations who were screened only by chest CT scan. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate a low frequency of COVID-19 mortality (1.9% for the whole cohort and 8.3% within COVID-19 infected patients) for recipients of living and deceased kidney transplantation that were performed within the COVID-19 pandemic. The above findings highlight for the first time in a large study the probability of living kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic in case strict screening of donors and recipients and close supervision of operating rooms and wards are implemented. We further hopothetize the inadequacy of chest CT scan for screening of COVID-19 in kidney transplantation surgery candidates.

COVID-19 Infection and Mortality Rates within Medical Specialists and General Practitioners and Its Comparison with the General Population: A Longitudinal Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to provide data regarding COVID-19 infection and mortality rates within different specialties of physicians and general medical practitioners in a longitudinal nationwide study and to compare the results with general population. METHODS: Data on COVID-19 infection and mortality of medical physicians in Iran was actively gathered through the Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC). Population COVID-19 cumulative incidence and mortality data were extracted from WHO situation analysis reports and data on Iranian population were obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran. RESULTS: As of Jul 27th 2020, COVID-19 infection and mortality rates were 0.680% and 0.0396% among 131223 physicians. The highest cumulative infection rates as of 27th July 2020, were observed in specialists of infectious diseases (3.14%) followed by neurology (2.18%), and internal medicine (2.13%). The highest cumulative mortality rates as of Nov 3rd 2020 were observed in specialties of forensic medicine (0.314%), anesthesiology (0.277%), urology (0.237%), and infectious diseases (0.20%). Male physicians comprised 95% of cumulative mortality as of Nov 3rd. The physicians' COVID-19 mortality in July and November were 49% and 23% higher than the general population respectively. CONCLUSION: Infection and mortality rates in Iranian physicians were higher than the general population, however the magnitude of difference was narrowing in longitudinal investigation. Provision of personnel protective equipment should be prioritized to specialists of infectious diseases, forensic medicine, anesthesiology, internal and emergency medicine, and urology.