Management of the process of supply of convalescent plasma

Bulgarian Medical Journal, 16, 2022, № 1, 42-49.

М. Todorova

Abstract. For the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), health systems have developed disease management strategies. The use of convalescent plasma in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars-Cov-2) is recommended. The use of plasma from a donor who has survived COVID-19 is potentially expected to have a good effect. Objective: to investigate the possibility of providing convalescent plasma and the involvement of the nurse in the transfusion hematology ward in providing convalescent plasma administered to patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: the study was carried out using our own tools ‒ а questionnaire for the patient COVID-19; а questionnaire for nurses involved in the process of providing and administering convalescent plasma. The medical documentation of patients, in whom convalescent plasma was applied in the first quarter of 2021 was studied. An in-depth interview was conducted with 9 experts organizing the activities for providing convalescent plasma and its application in patients with COVID-19 in the shumen region. Results and conclusions: the existing legislation does not allow the department of transfusion hematology to perform “apheresis”, through which to extract only convalescent plasma from the donor. Half of the respondents share that it is challenging to provide a donor of convalescent plasma (52% were survivors, 50% were nurses). Leading reasons that prevent the donation of convalescent plasma are the presence of contraindications for donation, fear of manipulation and fear of infection. Most of the nurses share the need for additional theoretical and practical courses for vts (courses for the application of convalescent plasma in the treatment of COVID-19), (41.5%).

Key words: convalescent plasma, COVID-19, organization, insurance

Address for correspondence: M. Todorova, shumen affiliate, medical university “prof. Dr. Paraskev stoyanov” – Varna,
е-mail: m.todorova@mu-varna.bg