Scientific report 2021 of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (IDWP)

This year, like 2020, was marked by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, impacting all aspects of HSCT, forcing historical changes like the universal cryopreservation of allogenic products in many centres, decreasing the transplant activity for the first time in 30 years (6.5% in allogeneic HSCT and 7.5% in auto HSCT) (Passweg JR et al., BMT 2022 in press) and producing an important suffer for our patients with a high rate of mortality.

This year was also marked by the collaboration and generosity of the EBMT family and by a significant increase in the activity of the IDWP. The IDWP has participated in the elaboration of several recommendations and guidelines for this infection with other WPs and groups: the EBMT recommendations for the general management (16 updates) and vaccination of SARS-CoV-2 (8 updates); EBMT recommendations for HSCT in autoimmune diseases in the time of COVID-19 (in collaboration with ADWP, PWP, EBMT Nurses Group); and in the ECIL 9 COVID-19 guidelines (manuscript in preparation). Thanks to the generosity of several WPs of EBMT, an extra budget was obtained to support several studies under the umbrella of the recently created COVID Task Force.

But the activity of the IDWP  has not been limited to SARS-CoV-2, and many other activities and studies have been done or are in progress. In 2021 we had 17 publications (Leukemia 2; Lancet Oncol 2; CID 1; J Infect 2; Ann Hematol 1, BMT 9) with the highest impact factor in the history of the group (168), and 4 communications to congresses (EBMT and ASH). We also organised two educational courses.