en عمومى General پژوهشي Research <pre style="text-align:justify"> <span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="background:white"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Introduction:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> Person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 disease is reported to be the main route of transmission among the population putting organ transplant candidates and recipients at a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to assess the frequency of following COVID-19 personal protective protocols among liver transplant candidates and recipients.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></span></span> <span style="background:white"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Methods:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> <span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt">In this cross-sectional study, 170 liver transplant candidates and recipients, as well as their family members (n=348), at Guilan transplant center in Rasht, Iran, were selected via convenience sampling method. The participants&rsquo; clinical and demographical data, as well as history of COVID-19 infection and adherence to personal protective protocols (mask usage, glove usage, and social and physical distancing), were recorded. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 22).</span></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></span></span> <span style="background:white"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Results:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> Out of 170 participants, 84 (49.4%) cases were liver transplant candidates, and 86 (51.6%) subjects were liver transplant recipients. The mean age of liver transplant candidates was 50.24&plusmn;12.83 years, while the mean age of liver transplant recipients was 42.97&plusmn;16.56 years. The frequency of COVID-19 infection among liver transplant candidates, liver transplant recipients, family members of liver transplant candidates, and family members of liver transplant recipients were 3(3.6%), 5(5.8%), 4(2.4%), and 2(1.1%), respectively. Patients and their family members&#39; adherence to personal protective protocols was above 90%.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></span></span> <span style="background:white"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Conclusion:</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> The obtained results pointed to the low frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection among liver transplant candidates and recipients. The findings highlighted the considerable impact of following personal protective protocols on the prevention of COVID-19.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></span></span> </span></span> </pre> COVID-19, Liver transplantation, Protective factors, SARS-CoV-2 101 105 http://jsurgery.bums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-444-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Pirouz Samidoust pirooz.samidoost.md@gmail.com 100319475328460011244 100319475328460011244 Yes Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Mirsaeed Attarchi bmed.sciences@gmail.com 100319475328460011245 100319475328460011245 No Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Inflammatory Lung Diseases Research Center, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Mona Asghari nasi202023@yahoo.com 100319475328460011246 100319475328460011246 No Clinical Research Development Unit, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Zahra Atrkar ljvset@gmail.com 100319475328460011247 100319475328460011247 No Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Otorhinolaryngology Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran