Sars-cov-2 versus Non-sars-cov-2 Infection Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Case Control Study

M. A. Mendoza¹, M. Raja¹, S. Anjan¹, S. C. Curel², G. Rosello³, A. Fernandez¹, A. Chandorkar⁴, C. O'Brien⁵, A. Phancao⁵, N. Sinha¹, R. Vianna¹, M. Loebe¹, C. Gaetano¹, J. Simkins¹, M. Morris¹, L. Abbo¹, J. Camargo¹, G. Guerra¹, Y. Natori¹

¹Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, ²Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, ³University of Miami, Miami, FL, ⁴University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, ⁵Miami Transplant Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL

Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 750

Keywords: Infection, N/A

Topic: Clinical Science » Infectious Disease » All Infections (Excluding Kidney & Viral Hepatitis)

Session Information

Session Name: All Infections (Excluding Kidney & Viral Hepatitis)

Session Type: Poster Abstract

Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.

Location: Virtual

*Purpose: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has been raging since the end of 2019. The clinical differences between non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) are not well defined.

*Methods: This is a case control study of adult SOTR with PCR positive nasopharyngeal sample or bronchoalveolar lavage, for either SARS-CoV-2 or non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, from 1/2017 to 10/2020. Follow up period was up to three months. Secondary infections were diagnosed by culture or viral PCR from a sterile specimen. Clinical outcomes were compared amongst both groups.

*Results: Seventy-two non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and 129 SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified. Patient’s demographic information and outcomes are shown in table 1 and 2 respectively. Secondary infections and ICU admissions were statistically significantly different between both groups, and higher mortality was observed in the SARS-CoV-2 group. With time to event analysis, there was trend to higher mortality with SARS-CoV-2 infection as compared to non- SARS-CoV-2 (p=0.06)(figure).

*Conclusions: Our study shows SOTR with SARS-CoV-2 infection may have a significant worse outcome as compared to non-SARS-CoV-2. Secondary infection was also common after this respiratory viral infection in both groups.

Table 1. Patient’s characteristics and laboratory findings
Data in median, IQR	SARS-CoV-2 (129)	non-SARS-CoV-2 (72)	p-value
Gender (female)	54	33	0.59
Age	53 (45-62)	60.5 (42.3-66)	0.17
Time to infection post- SOT (months)	27.7 (8.2-74.3)	15 (7.3-40.2)	0.11
Kidney transplant	91	27
Liver transplant	16	8

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio	1.7 (1.8-6.7)	5.6 (2.8-13.4)	0.08

Table 2. Outcomes
	SARS-CoV-2 (129)	non-SARS-CoV-2 (72)	p-value
Lower respiratory tract infection	115 (89.1%)	38 (52.8%)	0.10
Secondary infection	50 (38.8%)	17 (23.6%)	0.028
Intensive care unit admission	34 (26.3%)	9 (12.5%)	0.04
Rejection	12 (9.3%)	4 (5.6%)	0.35

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Mendoza MA, Raja M, Anjan S, Curel SC, Rosello G, Fernandez A, Chandorkar A, O'Brien C, Phancao A, Sinha N, Vianna R, Loebe M, Gaetano C, Simkins J, Morris M, Abbo L, Camargo J, Guerra G, Natori Y. Sars-cov-2 versus Non-sars-cov-2 Infection Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Case Control Study [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/sars-cov-2-versus-non-sars-cov-2-infection-among-solid-organ-transplant-recipients-case-control-study%e2%80%8b/. Accessed May 11, 2025.

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