Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection in Newborns

Jeffrey M Perlman; Christine Salvatore

doi:10.1016/j.clp.2021.11.005

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection in Newborns

Clin Perinatol. 2022 Mar;49(1):73-92. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2021.11.005. Epub 2021 Nov 9.

Authors

Jeffrey M Perlman¹, Christine Salvatore²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Newborn, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1283 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: Jmp2007@med.cornell.edu.
² Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine- New York Presbyterian Hospital, 505 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Abstract

Maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can present with or without symptoms at the time of birth. Symptomatic mothers are more likely be associated with preterm births. Population studies demonstrate a consistent association of SARS-CoV-2 infection and a reduction in preterm birth rate. Newborns with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results appear to have minimal burden of illness that is directly associated with a viral infection. Neonatal mortality directly related to SARS-CoV-2 is extremely rare. Maternal vaccination in pregnant women leads to maternal antibody production, and this can occur as early as 5 days after the first vaccination dose.

Keywords: Breast milk; COVID-19; Maternal vaccination; Preterm birth; SARS-CoV-2; Syncytiotrophoblast; Vertical transmission.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology
Premature Birth* / epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2