Risk Factors for Infectious Disease in Corneal Transplant Screening

Abstract

While there are questionnaire identified risk factors associated with seropositivity in this study, their clinical usefulness is unclear. Many factors crucial to the elimination of potentially infectious donor tissues are not identified in the posthumous history typically completed by next of kin. These questionnaires alone do not provide exclusion criteria for elimination of potentially infectious tissues from the donor pool.

PHS Guideline for Reducing Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus Transmission through Organ Transplantation

“…None of the three studies found an association between sex work (including sex bartering or sex for drugs) and HBV. 118,124,125 A study of corneal donors did not find any association between sex work and infection with HBV in univariate analysis. 118 Two studies of psychiatric inpatient veterans did not detect an association between sex bartering 124 or unprotected sex for drugs 125 with HBV infection in multivariate analyses.…”

“…We found very low-quality evidence in one study that did not find an association between cigarette use and HIV (Appendix C) among corneal donors. 118 12. Tattoos and piercing.…”

“…Very low-quality evidence was found in one study that did not find an association among tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture (as collectively analyzed as one outcome and reported by next of kin) in potential corneal donors (Appendix C). 118 13. International travel. Evidence of very low quality was found in one study that did not find an 1.…”

“…HIV was associated with having an alcohol and/or (unspecified) drug problem among health maintenance organization (HMO) enrollees, 120 but not with alcohol use among potential corneal donors. 118 Both of these analyses were univariate. c. Tobacco.…”

“…One corneal donor study involving a next-of-kin interview did not find any association between sex work and infection with HIV. 118 One study of patients at an urban medical care center reported a 2.3% prevalence of exchanging sex for drugs or money 117 (Appendix C), and this evidence was rated low quality. and this evidence was rated low quality.…”