Very low risk to newborns from moms with COVID-19, finds study

Date:
October 12, 2020
Source:
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Summary:
Moms with COVID-19 who take basic precautions rarely pass the virus
to their newborns, even if breastfeeding and rooming together,
a new study finds.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection rarely transmit the virus to their
newborns when basic infection-control practices are followed, according
to a new study by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
and NewYork- Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. The findings
-- the most detailed data available on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between moms and their newborns -- suggest that more extensive measures
like separating COVID- 19-positive mothers from their newborns and
avoiding direct breastfeeding may not be warranted.


==========================================================================
The study was published online today in JAMA Pediatrics.

"Our findings should reassure expectant mothers with COVID-19 that
basic infection-control measures during and after childbirth -- such as
wearing a mask and engaging in breast and hand hygiene when holding or breastfeeding a baby -- protected newborns from infection in this series,"
says Cynthia Gyamfi- Bannerman, MD, MSc, the Ellen Jacobson Levine and
Eugene Jacobson Professor of Women's Health in Obstetrics and Gynecology
at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons,
a maternal-fetal medicine expert at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
University Irving Medical Center, and a senior author of the paper.

Basic Infection-Prevention Measures Reduced COVID-19 Risk in Newborns
The researchers examined outcomes in the first 101 newborns born to
COVID-19- positive mothers at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley
Children's Hospital or NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital from March
13 to April 24, 2020.

To reduce the risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to newborns after delivery, hospital staff practiced social distancing, wore masks, and placed COVID- positive moms in private rooms. The hospitals provided the mothers with educational materials about COVID-19 and shortened hospital stays for
all mothers without complications from delivery.



==========================================================================
Most of the newborns roomed with their mothers, including during the
first postpartum checkup. (Some were admitted to the newborn intensive
care unit for non-COVID-related health reasons.) Infants who roomed with
their moms were placed in protective cribs six feet away from the mothers'
beds when resting.

Direct breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact with babies were strongly encouraged, provided the moms wore masks and washed hands and breasts
with soap and water.

"During the pandemic, we continued to do what we normally do to
promote bonding and development in healthy newborns, while taking a
few extra precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus,"
says Gyamfi-Bannerman.

Only two of the newborns tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 but had no
clinical evidence of illness. (The researchers were unable to pinpoint
how the babies became infected.) Physicians followed up with about half
of the infants, including the two that tested positive for the virus,
during the first two weeks of life, and all remained well.

Data Support Breastfeeding, Skin-to-Skin Contact with Baby Even
if Mom Has COVID-19 A number of pediatric and health organizations
have released interim guidelines for pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2, recommending the separation of mothers and newborns during their
hospital stay, no direct breastfeeding, and bathing newborns as soon
as possible. (Normally, newborns are bathed after a minimum of 24
hours of life because it interferes with bonding, breastfeeding and
increases the risk of dangerously low temperatures and blood sugars.)
"These recommendations were made in the absence of data on rates of
mother-to- newborn SARS-CoV-2 transmission and are based on experience
with mother-newborn transmission of other infectious diseases," says
lead author Dani Dumitriu, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics
in psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and
Surgeons and a pediatric newborn hospitalist in the Division of Child
and Adolescent Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. "But some of the recommendations conflict with what we know
about the developmental benefits of early breastfeeding and skin- to-skin contact. Our study shows that these measures may not be necessary for
healthy newborns with COVID-positive moms."


==========================================================================
"We think it's particularly important that mothers with COVID-19 have the opportunity to directly breastfeed their newborns," Gyamfi-Bannerman says.

"Breast milk is known to protect newborns against numerous pathogens,
and it may help protect newborns against infection with SARS-CoV-2. Most studies have not found SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk, and breast milk
has been found to contain antibodies against the virus." The study
is titled, "Outcomes of newborns born to mothers with SARS-CoV- 2
infection at a large medical center in New York City." The other
contributors are: Ukachi N. Emeruwa (NewYork-Presbyterian and
Columbia), Erin Hanft (Columbia), Grace V. Liao (NewYork-Presbyterian
and Columbia), Elizabeth Ludwig (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia),
Lauren Walzer (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Brittany Arditi (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Minna Saslaw (NewYork-Presbyterian
and Columbia), Maria Andrikopoulou (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia),
Tessa Scripps (NewYork- Presbyterian and Columbia), Caitlin Baptiste (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia) Adrita Khan (NewYork-Presbyterian
and Columbia), Noelle Breslin (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia),
David Rubenstein (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Lynn L. Simpson, (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Margaret H.

Kyle (Columbia), Alexander M. Friedman (NewYork-Presbyterian and
Columbia), Daniel S. Hirsch (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Russell
S. Miller (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Cristina R. Ferna'ndez
(NewYork- Presbyterian and Columbia), Karin M. Fuchs (NewYork-Presbyterian
and Columbia) M. Kathleen Keown (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia),
Melissa E. Glassman (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Ashley Stephens (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Archana Gupta (NewYork-Presbyterian
and Columbia), Sally Sultan (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia),
Caroline Sibblies (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Susan Whittier (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Wanda Abreu (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Francis Akita (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Anna Penn (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Mary E. D'Alton (NewYork-Presbyterian
and Columbia), Jordan S. Orange (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia),
Dena Goffman (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), Lisa Saiman (NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia), and Melissa S. Stockwell (NewYork- Presbyterian and Columbia).

No funding was obtained for this work. The authors report no conflicts
of interest pertinent to this work.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Columbia_University_Irving_Medical_Center. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Dani Dumitriu, et al. Outcomes of Neonates Born to Mothers With
Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection at a Large
Medical Center in New York City. JAMA Pediatrics, Oct. 12, 2020;
DOI: 10.1001/ jamapediatrics.2020.4298 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201012120000.htm

--- up 7 weeks, 6 hours, 50 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)