No evidence of PERV infection in healthcare workers exposed to transgenic porcine liver extracorporeal support.
BACKGROUND
Clinical xenotransplantation holds great promise by providing one solution to the shortage of human organs for transplantation, while also posing a potential public health threat by facilitating transmission of infectious disease from source animals to humans. One potential vector for infectious disease transmission is healthcare workers (HCW) who are involved in administering xenotransplantation procedures.


METHODS
In this study, we studied 49 healthcare workers involved in the care of two subjects who participated in a study of porcine liver perfusion as treatment of fulminant hepatic failure. We looked for serologic and virologic evidence of transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus, and found that HCW had no evidence of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of our survey demonstrate that application of standard precautions may be sufficient to prevent transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus, an agent of concern in ex vivo xenotransplantation products.
Baylor All Saints Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA. marlonl@baylorhealth.edu
Marlon F
MF
Levy
Takele
T
Argaw
Carolyn A
CA
Wilson
James
J
Brooks
Paul
P
Sandstrom
Harriet
H
Merks
John
J
Logan
Goran
G
Klintmalm
D000818:Animals; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016635:Universal Precautions; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology