SCARCE: aSymptomatic respiratory viral Carriage in pre-lung transplant recipients and the effect on eArly-post lung tRansplant CoursE

Asymptomatic community-acquired respiratory viral (CARV) carriage before lung transplantation (LTx) has not been studied. This study analyzed CARV carriage pre-LTx and its impact on early post-LTx outcome. This retrospective cohort study included adult LTx recipients at UMC Groningen from January 2017 to August 2023. Pre-LTx viral swabs were routinely tested for CARV. The primary outcome was incidence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) at 48 or 72 h post-LTx. Secondary outcomes included mechanical ventilation duration, ICU stay, hospital length of stay (LOS), 30- and 90-day mortality, and early rejection therapy. Of 222 recipients, 23 (10.4%) tested positive for a CARV, most commonly rhinovirus (n=10). PGD grade 3 occurred in 14.3% of CARV-positive vs. 9.1% of CARV-negative recipients (p=0.434). No differences were observed in secondary outcomes. Our study provides early data suggesting that asymptomatic carriage may not be associated with worse short-term outcomes.