Infection precautions for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in assisted reproduction centers: dodging an invisible bullet

Kresowik, Jessica D.

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.01.016

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As in many countries, in Belgium too, assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles were abruptly discontinued, except for oncofertility patients. As the number of infections and hospitalizations declined, ART cycles were relaunched, and fertility clinics took precautionary measures to ensure patient care on the basis of safety guidelines provided by national and international societies, while mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 passage in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory (4). Recommendations were updated continuously as evidence regarding patient and staff safety accumulated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Undetectable viral RNA in follicular fluid, cumulus cells, and endometrial tissue samples in SARS-CoV-2–positive women

Boudry

Essahib

Mateizel

et al. 2022

Fertility and Sterility

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives To study the presence of viral RNA in follicular fluid, cumulus cells and endometrial tissue samples in SARS-CoV-2 positive women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Design Prospective, single-center, observational study. Setting Tertiary hospital, University Hospital UZ Brussel, Belgium. Patients Sixteen patients undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA test less than 48 hours before the procedure. All cases were done between September 2020 and June 2021 and used in-vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. All embryos were vitrified to avoid conception during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intervention Follicular fluid aspirated during oocyte retrieval, cumulus cells and endometrial samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RealStar® SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-Kit1.0 (Altona-Diagnostics). Main outcome measures The primary outcome parameter was the detection of viral RNA in follicular fluid, cumulus cells and endometrial cells. Fertilization rate, embryo developmental potential and clinical outcome after frozen embryo transfer were secondary outcome parameters. Results Samples from sixteen patients were analyzed. Cycle threshold (C t ) values < 40 were considered positive. All samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. No inﬂammatory lesions of the endometrium were identiﬁed histologically. Fertilization rate, embryo development and clinical outcomes after embryo transfer were reassuring. Conclusions In women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who underwent ART, viral RNA was undetectable in follicular fluid, cumulus cells and endometrium. Caution is warranted in view of the small sample size, and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 affecting the embryo via ART cannot be ruled out. Adequate counselling of women and couples undergoing ART is crucial in parallel with further research on the effect of exposure of the early human embryo to SARS-CoV-2.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Undetectable viral RNA in follicular fluid, cumulus cells, and endometrial tissue samples in SARS-CoV-2–positive women

Boudry

Essahib

Mateizel

et al. 2022

Fertility and Sterility

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…With the onset of COVID-19, we implemented strict containment, disinfection and risk reduction practices to our staff and patients 4 . Emergency staffing plans, including rotations and skeleton crews, were needed to mitigate peak exposure periods, while following PPE, temperature/symptom monitoring and frequent handwashing practices to effectively reduce direct vertical transmission interactions.…”

Section: How Should We Handle Potential Infectious Microorganisms In ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…What impact would Covid-19 have on fertility treatment either in the short-term (i.e., acute patient exposures) or long-term (i.e., laboratory exposures and cryo-storage)? We entered a new dimension of "Pandemic-mania", where strict new SOP's were established for screening patients and staff (e.g., temperature checks, exposure survey), reducing clinical exposures by limiting onsite visits (e.g., couple consults, partner participation), mandatory preventative measures enforced (e.g., handwashing, face masks, social distancing), and rigorous decontamination practices 4 . In looking at the potential source of infectious diseases affecting patients undergoing IVF we needed to look at the three major tissue sources: sperm, oocytes and embryos.…”

Section: How Should We Handle Potential Infectious Microorganisms In ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Good Tissue Practices (GTP) for the Cryopreservation of Reproductive Tissues in an Era of Pandemic-mania: What is the Best Practice Policy?

Schiewe

2022

MRAJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 to date has altered all our lives and how clinical medicine is practiced. Faced with a highly infectious coronavirus, specifically known as Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), in our homes, clinical environment and laboratories, we have applied preventative measures to potentially control and contain this mysterious pathogen. Although the concepts of frequent handwashing/ disinfection, social distancing and face mask wearing were rigidly applied with regional variation of acceptance in the USA, clinics and reproductive biology/IVF laboratories adapted strict global policies for a safer workplace for our staff, patients, and the specimens we handled. We address the concerns that resurfaced with the COVID -19 pandemic, regarding potential disease transmission between hosts, reproductive tissue (sperm, oocytes and embryos), recipient uteri and the fetus. To what extent were preventative measures sufficient and is there a need for adopting “best practices” above and beyond established “good tissue practices”. In fear of future pandemic disease events (“pandemic-mania”) impacting fertility treatments, this paper addresses the rationale and benefits of adhering strictly to best practices, like the use of secure closed system biocontainment in cryostorage as an important preventative measure. Additionally, historical and current perspectives are discussed and the ability to change established practices under the guise of commercial influences.

show abstract

“…In the case of assisted reproduction, the pandemic has not only delayed or canceled many of them, but has also generated, in couples, an atmosphere of fear of contagion; all this has prompted the various reproductive health centers to increase their preventive measures. 4,5 In the case of fertility, it has been reported that COVID-19 could decrease male fertility in the short term and that vaccination against COVID-19 does not affect fertility. 6 All this shows gaps in knowledge and the need for future research to establish a better relationship between COVID-19 and Reproductive Medicine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientometric Study of The World Academic Production in Reproductive Medicine And COVID-19

Carlos Quispe-Vicuna,

Miguel Cabanillas-Lazo,

Carlomagno Villarreal-Inca

et al. 2023

Natl J Community Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: COVID-19 has generated new gaps in knowledge, which in turn has had a significant impact on different areas of research, one of these being Reproductive Medicine. However, to date, no analysis of publications on this topic has been identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the worldwide scientific production of COVID-19 in Reproductive Medicine. Method: We conducted an advanced bibliographic search in the Scopus database to identify articles on COVID-19 and Reproductive Medicine from 2019 to May 2022. The collected data was analyzed with Scival software, and the results were presented through summary tables. Result: A total of 737 publications were collected and analyzed, of which 594 were original articles and 143 reviews. Leila V. Adamyan and Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Russia) were the most productive author and institution, respectively. The European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology was the journal with the highest number of publications. In addition to that, we report a steady increase in the number of publications between 2020 and 2021, especially of articles published in first quartile (Q1) journals. Finally, although most of the publications had only national collaboration, the highest impact was found in those studies with international collaboration. Conclusion: The scientific production on Reproductive Medicine and COVID-19 has reported a steady increase in recent years, especially in Q1 journals, which evidences a special interest in the subject by the scientific community. However, since new articles on COVID-19 are constantly being published, we recommend future bibliometric analyses to better analyze the topic.

show abstract

Infection precautions for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in assisted reproduction centers: dodging an invisible bullet

Cited by 6 publications

References 37 publications

Undetectable viral RNA in follicular fluid, cumulus cells, and endometrial tissue samples in SARS-CoV-2–positive women

Undetectable viral RNA in follicular fluid, cumulus cells, and endometrial tissue samples in SARS-CoV-2–positive women

Good Tissue Practices (GTP) for the Cryopreservation of Reproductive Tissues in an Era of Pandemic-mania: What is the Best Practice Policy?

Scientometric Study of The World Academic Production in Reproductive Medicine And COVID-19

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About