Prevalence of COVID-19 and Following Personal Protective Protocols among Liver Transplant Candidates and Recipients and their Family Members

Introduction: Person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 disease is reported to be the main route of transmission among the population putting organ transplant candidates and recipients at a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to assess the frequency of following COVID-19 personal protective protocols among liver transplant candidates and recipients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 170 liver transplant candidates and recipients, as well as their family members (n=348), at Guilan transplant center in Rasht, Iran, were selected via convenience sampling method. The participants’ clinical and demographical data, as well as history of COVID-19 infection and adherence to personal protective protocols (mask usage, glove usage, and social and physical distancing), were recorded. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 22). Results: Out of 170 participants, 84 (49.4%) cases were liver transplant candidates, and 86 (51.6%) subjects were liver transplant recipients. The mean age of liver transplant candidates was 50.24±12.83 years, while the mean age of liver transplant recipients was 42.97±16.56 years. The frequency of COVID-19 infection among liver transplant candidates, liver transplant recipients, family members of liver transplant candidates, and family members of liver transplant recipients were 3(3.6%), 5(5.8%), 4(2.4%), and 2(1.1%), respectively. Patients and their family members’ adherence to personal protective protocols was above 90%. Conclusion: The obtained results pointed to the low frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection among liver transplant candidates and recipients. The findings highlighted the considerable impact of following personal protective protocols on the prevention of COVID-19.