Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 4 ( July-August, 2021 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to Newborns in COVID-19 Infected Mothers: A Cross-sectional Study

Hemraj Narkhede, Mahesh R Asalkar, Surkyant Munload, Y Vipulachandra

Keywords : Coronavirus, COVID-19, Intrauterine transmission, Perinatal, Pregnancy, SARS-CoV-2, Vertical transmission

Citation Information : Narkhede H, Asalkar MR, Munload S, Vipulachandra Y. Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to Newborns in COVID-19 Infected Mothers: A Cross-sectional Study. J South Asian Feder Obs Gynae 2021; 13 (4):230-235.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10006-1917

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 20-11-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim and objective: To establish the presence or absence of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in patients who delivered during the study period. Study design: Cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2020 to October 2020 at dedicated COVID hospital. During the study period, all SARS-CoV-2-positive patients who delivered at the study institution were studied to find SARS-CoV-2 infection in newborn by intrauterine transmission. Newborns were screened within 60 minutes of delivery for vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection by nasopharyngeal swab test for RT-PCR. Results: Two hundred one COVID positive pregnant women enrolled in the study. Two newborns tested SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR test: One was delivered by vaginal route and other by caesarian section. Both babies who were tested SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR test were born after EDD (>40 weeks) to low-risk mothers. Time interval between maternal test positivity and delivery interval was 7–14 days. Conclusion: The rate of VT is 0.99% in our study. The possibility of vertical transmission is more in postdated pregnancy. There was no relation seen in our study with the severity of disease or symptoms of infection at the time of admission and vertical transmission, but it needs to be further studied. We did not notice the association of high-risk obstetrics conditions and vertical transmission.


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