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Neonatology
. 2021 Oct 7;1-7.
doi: 10.1159/000518060. Online ahead of print.
Perinatal Transmission and Outcome of Neonates Born to SARS-CoV-2-Positive Mothers: The Experience of 2 Highly Endemic Italian Regions
Manuela Capozza 1 , Silvia Salvatore 2 , Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre 1 , Silvia Inting 1 , Raffaella Panza 1 , Margherita Fanelli 3 , Simona Perniciaro 4 , Laura Morlacchi 4 , Antonella Vimercati 5 , Massimo Agosti 2 , Nicola Laforgia 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 34628414
- DOI: 10.1159/000518060
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible of the pandemic declared in March 2020 and still ongoing. COVID-19 affects all ages but presents less complications and fatalities in children. Neonatal infections have rarely been reported worldwide, and vertical transmission is uncertain.
Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of all infants born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers admitted to 2 hospitals in South (Bari) and North (Varese) of Italy from April to December 2020. A molecular nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was made at birth for all enrolled newborns to evaluate vertical transmission of infection. We also evaluated postnatal transmission with a second nasopharyngeal swab made at 1 month of life and described maternal and neonatal clinical findings and short-term outcomes.
Results: 176/179 (97%) newborns were SARS-CoV-2 negative at birth and 151/156 (97%) infants were still negative at 1 month of life. All newborns were asymptomatic. Seventy percent of newborns were breastfed during hospitalization. At 1 month of life, 76% of infants were breastfed.
Conclusion: According to our results, vertical and perinatal infection is very rare. Breastfeeding does not increase the risk of COVID-19 and should be encouraged.
Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Neonates; Newborn; SARS-CoV-2; Vertical transmission.