Clinical characteristics and evolution of 71 neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 at a tertiary center in Brazil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100136

Keywords:

Neonatology, COVID-19, Newborn, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Limited data are available on pregnant women with COVID-19 and their neonates.

Objective: This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and evolution from birth to discharge of a retrospective cohort of 71 neonates, with one set of twins, born to women with COVID-19 diagnosed at the end of pregnancy. The authors included all newborns admitted into a neonatal unit of a tertiary hospital in Brazil, between March 2020 and March 2021, whose unvaccinated mothers had COVID-19 symptoms and RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) for SARS-CoV-2 positive within fourteen days prior to delivery. Newborns to mothers with COVID-19 symptoms and negative tests for SARS-CoV-2 were excluded.

Results: The main route of birth delivery was cesarean, corresponding to 60 pregnant women (84.5%). The foremost indications for cesarean were pregnant with critical disease (24.6%) and acute fetal distress (20.3%). The mean birth weight was 2452 g (865‒3870 g) and the mean gestational age was 345/7 weeks (25‒40 weeks). There were 45 premature newborns (63.3%), of which 21 newborns (29.5%) were less than 32 weeks of gestational age. RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 on oropharyngeal swabs was positive in 2 newborns (2.8%) and negative in the other 69 newborns (97.2%). Most newborns (51.4%) needed respiratory support. Therapeutic interventions during hospitalization were inotropic drugs (9.9%), antibiotics (22.8%), parenteral nutrition (26.8%), and phototherapy (46.5%).

Conclusion: Maternal COVID-19 diagnosticated close to delivery has an impact on the first days of neonatal life.

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Published

2022-11-02

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Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Duarte, B. de P., Krebs, V. L. J., Calil, V. M. L. T., Carvalho, W. B. de, Gibelli, M. A. B. C., & Francisco, R. P. V. (2022). Clinical characteristics and evolution of 71 neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 at a tertiary center in Brazil. Clinics, 77, 100136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100136