The full impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 virus, on the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is unknown. This perspective paper reviews the following: current COVID-19 epidemiology, diagnosis and potential therapies; care considerations unique to HCT patients; and the concept of a learning network to assimilate emerging guidelines and best practices and to optimize patient outcomes through facilitating shared learning and experience across transplant centers.

Introduction

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel single strand (ss) RNA beta-coronavirus, has caused the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As of April 13, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 1,773,084 laboratory confirmed cases and 111,652 deaths globally. 1 What ultimate impact COVID-19 will have on the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is currently unknown. This perspectives paper anticipates the significant influence of COVID-19 on HCT patients given their immune compromise, presence of other medical co-morbidities, and concerns for higher infection-related severity and mortality and also reviews the substantial impact of COVID-19 on the HCT-related healthcare system. To address these challenges, novel care approaches and ways to assimilate and share information in the background of rapid change are critically needed. Therefore, the concept of learning networks as interactive platforms for effectively assimilating and distributing evolving information to transplant centers is introduced.