The efficacy of convalescent plasma for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unclear. Although most randomized controlled trials have shown negative results, uncontrolled studies have suggested that the antibody content could influence patient outcomes. We conducted an open-label, randomized controlled trial of convalescent plasma for adults with COVID-19 receiving oxygen within 12 d of respiratory symptom onset (NCT04348656). Patients were allocated 2:1 to 500 ml of convalescent plasma or standard of care. The composite primary outcome was intubation or death by 30 d. Exploratory analyses of the effect of convalescent plasma antibodies on the primary outcome was assessed by logistic regression. The trial was terminated at 78% of planned enrollment after meeting stopping criteria for futility. In total, 940 patients were randomized, and 921 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Intubation or death occurred in 199/614 (32.4%) patients in the convalescent plasma arm and 86/307 (28.0%) patients in the standard of care arm—relative risk (RR) = 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94–1.43, P = 0.18). Patients in the convalescent plasma arm had more serious adverse events (33.4% versus 26.4%; RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.02–1.57, P = 0.034). The antibody content significantly modulated the therapeutic effect of convalescent plasma. In multivariate analysis, each standardized log increase in neutralization or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity independently reduced the potential harmful effect of plasma (odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% CI 0.57–0.95 and OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87, respectively), whereas IgG against the full transmembrane spike protein increased it (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.14–2.05). Convalescent plasma did not reduce the risk of intubation or death at 30 d in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Transfusion of convalescent plasma with unfavorable antibody profiles could be associated with worse clinical outcomes compared to standard care.

BACKGROUND: The optimal method of providing transfusion medicine (TM) education has not been determined. Transfusion Camp was established in 2012 at the University of Toronto as a centrally delivered TM education program for postgraduate trainees. The impact of Transfusion Camp on knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behavior was evaluated. METHODS: Didactic lectures (delivered locally, bywebinar, or recorded) and locally facilitated team-based learning seminars were delivered over 5 days during the academic year to 8 sites: 7 in Canada and 1 in the United Kingdom. Knowledge assessment using a validated 20-question multiple-choice exam was conducted before and after Transfusion Camp. Attitudes and self-reported behavior were collected through a survey. RESULTS:Over 2 academic years (July 2016 to June 2018), 390 trainees from 16 different specialties (predominantly anesthesia, 41%; hematology, 14%; and critical care, 7%) attended at least 1 day of Transfusion Camp. The mean pretest score was 10.3 of 20 (AE2.9; n = 286) compared with posttest score of 13.0 (AE2.8; n = 194; p < 0.0001). Lower pretest score and greater attendance (4-5 days compared with 1-3 days) were associated with larger improvement in posttest score; delivery format, specialty, and postgraduate year were not. Trainees reported an improvement in self-rated abilities to manage TM scenarios; 95% rated TM knowledge as very or extremely important in providing patient care; and 81% indicated that they had applied learning from Transfusion Camp into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: TransfusionCamp increased TM knowledge, fostered a positive attitude toward TM, and enabled a self-reported positive impact on transfusion practice in postgraduate trainees. It is a novel and scalable approach to delivering TM education. ABBREVIATIONS: PGY = postgraduate year; TBL = team-based learning; TM = transfusion medicine.From the

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Background Transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) is a common procedure, which when prescribed inappropriately can result in adverse patient outcomes. This study sought to determine the impact of a multi‐faceted intervention on unnecessary RBC transfusions at hospitals with a baseline appropriateness below 90%. Study Design and Methods A prospective medical chart audit of RBC transfusions was conducted across 15 hospitals. For each site, 10 RBCs per month transfused to inpatients were audited for a 5‐month pre‐ and 10‐month post‐intervention period, with each transfusion adjudicated for appropriateness based on pre‐set criteria. Hospitals with appropriateness rates below 90% underwent a 3‐month intervention which included: adoption of standardized RBC guidelines, staff education, and prospective transfusion order screening by blood bank technologists. Proportions of RBC transfusions adjudicated as appropriate and the total number of RBC units transfused per month in the pre‐ and post‐intervention period were examined. Results Over the 15‐month audit period, at the 13 hospital sites with a baseline appropriateness below 90%, 1950 patients were audited of which 81.2% were adjudicated as appropriate. Proportions of appropriateness and single‐unit orders increased from 73.5% to 85% and 46.2% to 68.2%, respectively from pre‐ to post‐intervention (P < .0001). Pre‐ and post‐transfusion hemoglobin levels and the total number of RBCs transfused decreased from baseline (P < .05). The median pre‐transfusion hemoglobin decreased from a baseline of 72.0 g/L to 69.0 g/L in the post‐intervention period (P < .0001). RBC transfusions per acute inpatient days decreased significantly in intervention hospitals, but not in control hospitals (P < .001). The intervention had no impact on patient length of stay, need for intensive care support, or in‐hospital mortality. Conclusion This multifaceted intervention demonstrated a marked improvement in RBC transfusion appropriateness and reduced overall RBC utilization without impacts on patient safety.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raised the possibility of overwhelming demand for critical care resources, necessitating the creation of resource allocation frameworks. • The working group who developed Saskatchewan's resource allocation framework were guided by the ethical principles of transparency, consistency, accountability, proportionality and responsiveness. Competing interests: Oksana Prokopchuk-Gauk has received consultant fees from Celgene and Takeda, an honorarium from Canadian Blood Services, and remuneration for conference travel from Octapharma; she is the chair of the National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products, and co-chair of the National Emergency Blood Management Committee. No other competing interests were declared. This article has been peer reviewed.

This case illustrates the acute onset of life-threatening bleeding in a 57-year-old male with treatment-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. Laboratory results confirmed the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Despite aggressive transfusion support, his consumptive coagulopathy and persistent bleeding could not be controlled, and his need for blood products began to outpace the available supply. Our patient had declined further chemotherapy treatment for his underlying aggressive prostate cancer and would accept only palliative care.Both thrombosis and bleeding are known to coexist during DIC. In our patient, his hemorrhagic clinical condition and laboratory results supported the presence of DIC with an excessive fibrinolytic process in the setting of metastatic prostate cancer. Following careful consideration of potential risks and benefits, the decision was made to administer the antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid to control bleeding. Initiation of this treatment led to rapid bleeding cessation without thrombotic complication. Although controversial, this treatment was life-saving in our patient and allowed hospital discharge. He remained transfusion independent for his remaining four weeks of life following discharge, and ultimately died at home of multi-organ failure related to his cancer.

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