Download PDF
Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(S 01): e1116-e1119
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760429
Original Article

Early Discharge of Newborns Born to Mothers with COVID-19: A Possible Safe Strategy

Simonetta Costa
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
,
Maria Coppola 
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
,
Simona Fattore
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
,
Milena Tana
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
,
Lisa Gassino
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
,
Paola Catalano
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
,
Roberta Pastorino
2   Section of Hygiene, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health—Public Health Area, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
,
Giovanni Vento
1   Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective In this study, we evaluated the safety of early discharge (ED) of newborns born to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive mothers.

Study Design All ED newborns from the postpartum wards of the Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli between January 1, 2022, and February 28, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. Newborns from mothers with COVID-19 and those from uninfected mothers were considered. The primary outcome was to evaluate whether the rate of the composite outcome, which was the percentage of rehospitalization/access in emergency room (RH/ER) within the first week from discharge, differed between neonates born to mother with COVID-19 (COVID-19 group) and those born to uninfected mothers (no COVID-19 group). The secondary outcomes were to assess the quality of feeding and number of outpatient visits in the follow-up clinic between the two cohorts of patients.

Results One hundred and thirty-four newborns in the no COVID-19 group and 26 in the COVID-19 group were analyzed. The rate of RH/ER in the no COVID-19 group was of 6 over 134 newborns (0.045, 95% confidence image [CI]: 0.017–0.095), while in COVID-19 group, it was of 2 over 26 newborns (0.077), which does not differ from the expected rate (1.17 over 26 newborns, 0.045, 95% CI: 0.017–0.095).

Conclusion ED for newborns from mothers with COVID-19 could be an actionable safe strategy.

Key Points

  • We evaluated the feasibility of early discharge (ED) of mothers with COVID-19 and their newborns.

  • Rate of rehospitalization between newborns from uninfected mothers and infected ones was comparable.

  • ED could be an actionable practice for newborns from mothers with COVID-19.

Keywords

COVID-19 - early discharge - infants - pregnancy - rehospitalization

Authors' Contributions

All listed authors meet all four of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors' (ICMJE) criteria for authorship. S.C. conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. M.T. conceptualized and designed the study and reviewed and revised the manuscript. M.C. drafted the initial manuscript, designed the data collection instruments, collected data, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. L.G. designed the data collection instruments, collected data, performed the initial analyses, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. P.C. designed the data collection instruments, collected data, performed the initial analyses, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. S.F. designed the data collection instruments, collected data, performed the statistical analysis, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. R.P. performed the statistical analysis, designed the data collection instruments, collected data, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. G.V. conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated and supervised data collection, and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.




Publication History

Received: 19 July 2022

Accepted: 18 November 2022

Article published online:
24 January 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 World Health Organization [https://www.who.int/]. Update on Omicron. [Accessed November 28, 2021 at: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron
    PubMed
  • 2 Xu Z, Liu K, Gao GF. Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 imposes a new challenge for the global public health. Biosaf Health 2022; 4 (03) 147-149
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Mercier CE, Barry SE, Paul K. et al. Improving newborn preventive services at the birth hospitalization: a collaborative, hospital-based quality-improvement project. Pediatrics 2007; 120 (03) 481-488
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Young PC, Korgenski K, Buchi KF. Early readmission of newborns in a large health care system. Pediatrics 2013; 131 (05) e1538-e1544
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 De Carolis MP, Cocca C, Valente E. et al. Individualized follow up programme and early discharge in term neonates. Ital J Pediatr 2014; 40: 70
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Cooper WO, Kotagal UR, Atherton HD. et al. Use of health care services by inner-city infants in an early discharge program. Pediatrics 1996; 98 (4 Pt 1): 686-691
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Hospital stay for healthy term newborns. Pediatrics 1995; 96 (4 Pt 1): 788-790
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Costa S, Priolo F, Fattore S. et al. Rooming-in practice during the pandemic: results from a retrospective cohort study. J Hum Lact 2022; 38 (03) 443-451
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Romagnoli C, Barone G, Pratesi S. et al; Task Force for Hyperbilirubinaemia of the Italian Society of Neonatology. Italian guidelines for management and treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia of newborn infants ≥ 35 weeks' gestational age. Ital J Pediatr 2014; 40 (01) 11
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Jones E, Stewart F, Taylor B, Davis PG, Brown SJ. Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 6 (06) CD002958
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Bowers J, Cheyne H. Reducing the length of postnatal hospital stay: implications for cost and quality of care. BMC Health Serv Res 2016; 16: 16
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Feijóo-Iglesias MB, Chicharro Chorro L, Ballester Escolar I, Suárez Pascual A, De la Peña Rodríguez MA, Alba Diego RM. Early discharge and postpartum home visit during the COVID-19 pandemic at the HULP (Madrid) [in Spanish]. Rev Esp Salud Pública 2021; 95: e202108105
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Waldenström U, Lindmark G. Early and late discharge after hospital birth. A comparative study of parental background characteristics. Scand J Soc Med 1987; 15 (03) 159-167
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Kruse AR, Lauszus FF, Forman A. et al. Effect of early discharge after planned cesarean section on recovery and parental sense of security. A randomized clinical trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2021; 100 (05) 955-963
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar