P40-A122†How to establish successful networking: educational training & exchange of experiences.

INTRODUCTION: Educational training within eye bank staff is needed to fulfill legal requirements and to keep staff up-to-date in times of rapid change and innovation.Especially when starting with eye banking a good and close contact to experienced colleagues could be of great benefit for both parties - the newcomers and old stagers. PURPOSE: The exchange of experiences and the mutual support in key processes of eye retrieval and banking contributes to the establishment of a structured and functional cooperation with the further goal of establishing a successful network far beyond the national borders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In July 2018 a first visit of Hornhautbank Munich team in Malta was organized followed by a visit of Malta staff members in November 2018 and July 2019 and a further visit in August 2022 after a longer pause related to Covid-pandemic.The SOPs of both facilities were compared with regard to local regulations and analyzed to assess how they can best be implemented taking into account local regulations and conditions.Hands-on training in in-situ-excision and the evaluation of the retrieved donor corneas using slit lamp- and endothelial-microscopy deepened the theory for practical implementation. RESULTS: Training materials have been loaned to the team in Malta for further training, and joint online meetings are planned for further training and sharing of difficult case reports to provide the team with appropriate assurance in all eye bank areas.Such cooperation has increased the confidence of the teams and supported the licensing inspections by competent authorities.

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

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.