Secondary Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 19 Pandemic on Patients and the Cellular Therapy Healthcare Ecosystem.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has significantly impacted global health and healthcare delivery systems. To characterize the secondary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies used in the delivery of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) care, we performed a comprehensive literature search encompassing changes in specific donor collection, processing practices, patient outcomes, and patient-related concerns specific to HSCT and HSCT-related healthcare delivery. In this review, we summarize the available literature on the secondary impacts the COVID-19 pandemic on the fields of HSCT and cellular therapy. The COVID-19 pandemic has had numerous secondary impacts on patients undergoing HSCT and the healthcare delivery systems involved in providing complex care to HSCT recipients. Institutions must identify these influences on outcomes and adjust accordingly to maintain and improve outcomes for the transplantation and cellular therapy community.

Quality Improvement in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy: Using the Model for Improvement to impact Outcomes.

Quality improvement and quality assurance form a complementary and independent relationship. Quality assurance measures compliance against industry standards using audits, whereas quality improvement is a continuous process focused on processes and systems that can improve care. The Model for Improvement is a robust quality improvement tool that transplant and cellular therapy teams can use to redesign healthcare processes. The Model for Improvement uses several components addressed in sequence to organize and critically evaluate improvement activities. Unlike other health sciences clinical research, quality improvement projects, and research are based on dynamic hypotheses that develop into observable, serial tests of change with continuous collection and feedback of performance data to stakeholders.

High-dose weekly AmBisome antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a pharmacokinetic study.

Disseminated fungal infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The widespread use of prophylactic oral triazoles has limitations of poor absorption, interindividual variability in metabolism, and hepatic toxicity. AmBisome (amphotericin B liposomal complex) has a better safety profile than the parent drug amphotericin B and produces higher plasma and tissue concentrations. We hypothesized that once-weekly high-dose AmBisome therapy could provide adequate fungal prophylaxis for immunocompromised children undergoing HSCT. We performed a pharmacokinetic pilot study to determine whether once-weekly high-dose AmBisome administration would result in effective concentrations throughout the dosing interval. A total of 14 children (median age, 3 years, 1 month; range, 4.5 months-9 years, 9 months) undergoing HSCT received once-weekly intravenous AmBisome prophylaxis (10 mg/kg as a 2-hour infusion). Blood samples for pharmacokinetic measurements were drawn around the first and the fourth weekly doses. The concentration of non-lipid-complexed amphotericin in plasma was determined by a validated bioassay. Pharmacokinetic parameters after single doses and during steady state were calculated using standard noncompartmental methods. AmBisome was well tolerated at this dose. Complete pharmacokinetic profiles for weeks 1 and 4 were obtained in 12 patients. The half-life calculated in this pediatric population was shorter on average than reported in adults (45 hours vs 152 hours). The volume of distribution correlated best with body weight (R(2) = .55), and clearance was best predicted by initial serum creatinine level (R(2) = .19). Mean (+/- standard deviation) individual plasma trough concentrations were 0.23 (0.13) mg/L after single doses and 0.47 (0.41) mg/L after multiple doses. Mean steady-state area under the curve was higher at week 4 than after a single dose (P < .05). Single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetic profiles were similar in 8 patients, whereas in 4 patients the week 4 profile showed nonlinear elimination. However, plasma concentrations at 7 days (Cmin) were not significantly different after the first and fourth doses, suggesting no significant accumulation over the course of therapy. Our data show measurable amphotericin B plasma concentrations 7 days after high-dose infusion of AmBisome. This suggests that once-weekly dosing, as described in this study, may provide useful protection against fungal infections.