Reduced Community-acquired Respiratory Virus Infection, but Not Non-virus Infection, in Lung Transplant Recipients During Government-mandated Public Health Measures to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort analysis comparing CARV infection before a statewide stay-at-home order, during the stay-at-home order and subsequent statewide mask mandate, and during 5 mo following the elimination of NPI was performed. All LTx recipients followed by and tested at our center were included. Data (multiplex respiratory viral panels; SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; blood cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus polymerase chain reaction; blood and bronchoalveolar lavage bacterial and fungal cultures) were collected from the medical record. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests were utilized for categorical variables. A mixed-effect model was used for continuous variables.

Results: Incidence of non-COVID CARV infection was significantly lower during the MASK period than during the PRE period. No difference was noted in airway or bloodstream bacterial or fungal infections, but cytomegalovirus bloodborne viral infections increased.

Conclusions: Reductions in respiratory viral infections, but not bloodborne viral infections nor nonviral respiratory, bloodborne, or urinary infections, were observed in the setting of public health COVID-19 mitigation strategies, suggesting the effectiveness of NPI in preventing general respiratory virus transmission.