Download PDF
Am J Perinatol 2020; 37(13): 1310-1316
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715862
Original Article

Characteristics of Newborns Born to SARS-CoV-2-Positive Mothers: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Mohsen A.A. Farghaly
1   Department of Pediatrics, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
2   Department of Pediatrics, Aswan College of Medicine, Aswan, Egypt
,
Fernanda Kupferman
1   Department of Pediatrics, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
,
Fiorella Castillo 
1   Department of Pediatrics, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
,
Roger M. Kim
1   Department of Pediatrics, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective The novel virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a terrifying pandemic. The range of illness severity among children is variable. This study aims to assess the characteristics of newborns born to SARS-CoV-2-positive women compared with those mothers who tested negative.

Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study performed at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in New York City from March to May 2020. Electronic medical records of mother–baby dyads were reviewed.

Results Seventy-nine mothers tested for SARS-CoV-2 were included, out of which 18.98% of mothers tested SARS-CoV-2 positive. We found a significant association between symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 status. We observed a significant association between newborns of SARS-CoV-2 positive and SARS-CoV-2 negative mothers regarding skin-to-skin contact (p < 0.001). Both groups showed significant differences regarding isolation (p < 0.001). Interestingly, regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection in newborns, only one newborn tested SARS-CoV-2 positive and was unstable in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). With the multivariable logistic regression model, babies of SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers were three times as likely to have desaturations in comparison to newborns from negative mothers. Also, newborns of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers were four times more likely to have poor feeding, compared with newborns of SARS-CoV-2-negative mothers. Finally, babies of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers were ten times more likely to be symptomatic at the 2-week follow-up.

Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 has caused major morbidity and mortality worldwide. Neonates born to mothers with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 are most of the time asymptomatic. However, neonatal critical illness due to SARS-CoV-2 is still a possibility; thus, isolation precautions (such as avoiding skin-to-skin contact and direct breastfeeding) and vertical transmission should be studied thoroughly. In addition, testing these newborns by nasopharyngeal swab at least at 24 hours after birth and monitoring them for the development of symptoms for 14 days after birth is needed.

Key Points

  • For SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers, reducing transmission of infection to newborns is crucial.

  • Newborns of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers are usually asymptomatic and may not be easily infected.

  • Critical illness in the newborn may still happen, so monitoring is needed.

Keywords

COVID-19 - newborn - NICU - pandemic - SARS-CoV-2

Authors' Contributions

M.A.A.F., F.K., and R.M.K. designed the study. M.A.A.F. and F.C. collected the data and performed the data analysis. F.K. and R.M.K. revised the data analysis, edited the manuscript, and critically revised the final version. F.C. submitted the manuscript. All authors read and approved all the manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 07 July 2020

Accepted: 30 July 2020

Article published online:
03 September 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers
333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.