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The extent to which donor multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) affect organ utilization remains unclear. We performed a retrospective cohort study at 4 transplant centers between 2015 and 2016 to evaluate this question. All deceased donors who donated at least one organ were included. Exposed donors had at least one MDRO on culture. Unexposed donors had no MDRO-positive cultures. Only cultures obtained during the donor's terminal hospitalization were evaluated. Multivariable regression was used to determine the association between donor MDRO and (1) number of organs transplanted per donor and (2) the match run at which each organ was accepted. Subsequently, we restricted the analysis to donors with MDR-Gram-negative (GN) organisms. Of 440 total donors, 29 (7%) donors grew MDROs and 7 (2%) grew MDR-GNs. There was no significant association between donor MDRO and either measure of organ utilization. However, donor MDR-GNs were associated with a significant reduction in the number of organs transplanted per donor (incidence rate ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.48, P < .01), and organs were accepted significantly further down the match list (relative count 5.08, 95% CI 1.64-15.68, P = .01). Though donor MDR-GNs were infrequent in our study, their growing prevalence could meaningfully reduce the donor pool over time.

Donor infection or colonization with a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) affects organ utilization and recipient antibiotic management. Approaches to identifying donors at risk of carrying MDROs are unknown. We sought to determine the risk factors for MDROs among transplant donors. A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at four transplant centers between 2015 and 2016. All deceased donors who donated at least one organ were included. Cultures obtained during the donor's terminal hospitalization and organ procurement were evaluated. The primary outcome was isolation of an MDRO on culture. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine risk factors associated with time to donor MDRO. Of 440 total donors, 64 (15%) donors grew an MDRO on culture. Predictors of an MDRO on donor culture included hepatitis C viremia (hazard ratio [HR] 4.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71-9.78, P = .002), need for dialysis (HR 4.59, 95% CI 1.09-19.21, P = .037), prior hematopoietic cell transplant (HR 7.57, 95% CI 1.03-55.75, P = .047), and exposure to antibiotics with a narrow gram-negative spectrum (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00-1.27, P = .045). This is the first study to determine risk factors for MDROs among deceased donors and will be important for risk stratifying potential donors and informing transplant recipient prophylaxis.

This month’s MMWR selection is a link to the updated recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding the allocation of COVID‐19 vaccine.

The most significant issue facing solid organ transplantation (SOT) is the limited supply of donor organs. Expansion of the donor pool is needed to save more lives through SOT. Deceased donors with positive hepatitis C (HCV) serologic testing have been used inconsistently in the past due to concern for worse recipient outcomes and an inability to easily treat HCV in non-liver recipients (1). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.