This workshop was intended to launch draft infection surveillance guidance which has been prepared by UKXIRA. The workshop addressed specifically the questions of what information ( including what biological samples) should be collected and recorded, and what the international response to an adverse incident might be. It was the first stage in a consultation process which will refine the document and promote international discussion about the approach to surveillance.

Invitations to the workshop were extended to policy makers on xenotransplantation in other OECD countries and their Public Health colleagues as well as a wide range of people from within the UK.

Agenda:

Session 1. Assessing public health implications of xenotransplantation:

Walid Heneine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
What is known about human exposure to non human retroviruses

Robin Weiss, Professor of Viral Oncology, Wohl Virion Centre, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London:
The current state of knowledge on porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs)

Janet Dewdney, Chair of the biosecurity steering group and member of UKXIRA:
An overview of the work of the biosecurity group, outlining the proposals that deal with infection risks to xenograft recipients

Session 2. Planning for infection surveillance:

Sarah Elliston, lecturer in law from the University of Glasgow's Medical Law Unit and a member of the surveillance steering group:
The main ethical considerations raised by surveillance which have been considered by UKXIRA

Christine Lee, Professor of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital:
How families with a member who is HIV+/HCV+ are counselled and followed up

Christopher Bartlett, Director, PHLS Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre:
International co-operation on surveillance: adescription of international surveillance currently undertaken, using the European Network on Legionnaire's Disease as an example

Session 3. Considering the framework document

Amal Rushdy, PHLS Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre Consultant to the infection surveillance steering group:
Introduction to the UKXIRA draft infection surveillance document

The afternoon's workshops addressed the following questions:
a. International co-operation
- Is there a need for international co-operation on infection surveillance?
- What mechanisms do you think would be appropriate for developing co-operation?
- What should be the international response to an adverse incident?
   - What should be the definition of an adverse incident ?

b. Infection surveillance of patients and close contacts
- Do you agree that there should be infection surveillance of close contacts as well xenotransplantation recipients?
- Is there agreement that infection surveillance can only be on the basis of consent by patients?
- What do you see as the major hurdles to be overcome before a infection surveillance system for xenotransplantation recipients and their close contacts can be introduced ?

c. Infection surveillance data
- What sort of information should be held nationally / internationally?
- Does annex 4 of the draft document cover the sort of information you would want access to?

d. Other questions
- Are there topics which have not been raised today which you wish to discuss and/or which you consider need to be agreed before infection surveillance can be established?

Session 4: Feedback from workshops and open discussion

Chair of session:
George Griffin, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, Chair of the infection surveillance steering group; member of UKXIRA:

Comments were noted to be taken into account in the revision of the draft document at the end of the consultation process. If you have comments on the draft or on the questions raised at the workshops please write to the UKXIRA Secretariat. Details of the consultation process and the text of the draft document are on this web site.