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

Simonetta Costa; Maria Coppola; Simona Fattore; Milena Tana; Lisa Gassino; Paola Catalano; Roberta Pastorino; Giovanni Vento

doi:10.1055/s-0042-1760429

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

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

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

,

Maria Coppola

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

,

Simona Fattore

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

,

Milena Tana

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

,

Lisa Gassino

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

,

Paola Catalano

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

,

Roberta Pastorino

²Section 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

¹Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy

› Author Affiliations

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

Full Text

References

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