How to reduce the potential risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during vaginal delivery?

Andrea Carosso; Stefano Cosma; Paola Serafini; Chiara Benedetto; Tahir Mahmood

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.04.065

How to reduce the potential risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during vaginal delivery?

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020 Jul:250:246-249. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.04.065. Epub 2020 May 6.

Authors

Andrea Carosso¹, Stefano Cosma², Paola Serafini³, Chiara Benedetto², Tahir Mahmood⁴

Affiliations

¹ Obstetrics and Gynecology 1U, Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. Electronic address: andrea88.carosso@gmail.com.
² Obstetrics and Gynecology 1U, Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
³ Midwifery, Nursing and Allied Healthcare Professionals, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
⁴ Standards of Care and Position Statements Group of EBCOG (Brussels) and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Abstract

The risk of vertical transmission during vaginal delivery in COVID-19 pregnant patients is currently a topic of debate. Obstetric norms on vaginal birth assistance to reduce the potential risk of perinatal infection should be promoted by ensuring that the risk of contamination from maternal anus and faecal material is reduced during vaginal delivery.

Keywords: COVID-19; Maternal feacal contamination; Mode of delivery; Neonatal outcome; Pregnancy outcome; SARS-CoV-2; Vaginal; Vertical transmission.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
Coronavirus Infections / virology
Delivery, Obstetric / methods*
Female
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral / transmission*
Pneumonia, Viral / virology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
SARS-CoV-2
Vagina / virology