Infection Control News

The COVID-19 pandemic poses health risks for patients on chronic dialysis. With nearly 88% of these patients on in-center hemodialysis, managing risk for contracting or spreading the virus has been a challenge, according to a press release.

In a published report, researchers described the characteristics of patients who received in-center hemodialysis before hospitalization for COVID-19, assessing in-hospital mortality and outcomes after mechanical ventilation was required.

CMS has released preliminary Medicare claims data that show patients with end-stage renal disease who are diagnosed with COVID-19 had the highest rate of hospitalization among all Medicare beneficiaries.

Starting in July, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine will collaborate with dialysis testing laboratory Ascend to examine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients on dialysis, according to a press release.

Chronic kidney disease was present in more than 20% of patients who died of COVID-19 in Italy, according to researchers who presented data at the virtual ERA-EDTA Congress.

Data collected by the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association since March show 25% of kidney transplant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in European countries have died.

For recipients with HIV, early steroid withdrawal was associated with increased odds of acute graft rejection 1 year after kidney transplantation, according to research presented at the American Transplant Congress.

For recipients with HIV, early steroid withdrawal was associated with increased odds of acute graft rejection 1 year after kidney transplantation, according to research presented at the American Transplant Congress.

At the virtual American Transplant Congress, Emily Blumberg, MD, FAST, president of the American Society of Transplantation, discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the transplant community with challenges and opportunities.

A short course of direct-acting anti-viral prophylaxis may be effective in preventing transmission of hepatitis C virus from kidney donors to recipients, according to study results presented virtually at the American Transplant Congress.