Facing COVID-19 in the Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Setting: A New Challenge for Transplantation Physicians

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic has put enormous pressure on the health care system worldwide. As of 8th April 2020, more than 220 countries are already affected with a total of 1,462,698 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 84,792 deaths across the globe [1]. Absence of a specific antiviral agent and vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has strangled the treating health care providers. The special population that is at high risk of acquiring SARS-CoV 2 infection are immunocompromised, and HIV infected persons, pregnant woman, and cancer patients [2]. We hereby discuss the challenges being faced by cancer patients, specifically the transplant recipients and their respective donors during COVID-19 pandemic. Transplantation societies are working closely to provide optimal support and recommendations to the transplant specialists to guide them to conduct hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in the safest manner.