Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Dilemma During the COVID-19 Era
Ramy Samaha, Joseph Kattan
Abstract
Toward the end of 2019, WHO started taking notice of a new highly contagious virus, the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), originating in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, China Since then, the virus now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has been declared a pandemic by the WHO with more than 2 million coronavirus cases and claiming the lives of more than 160,000 persons SARS-Cov-2 incubation period ranges from 1 to 14 days with a median of 5 days Droplets and close contact are the main routes of transmission, but reports suggest that transmission can occur through aerosols Presentation varies from no or mild symptoms such as fever and dry cough, to more severe symptoms such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome A series of measures has been implemented by countries, following CDC and WHO recommendations, to limit disease spread. These measures include, but are not limited to, social distancing, frequent hand wash, high alert for suspicious symptoms The pandemic has proved to be stressful and deleterious on healthcare and the economic system both on the short-and long term No vaccine has been found to date, and although many therapeutic options such as hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir are under investigation, supportive and symptomatic care remain the treatment of choice