Mother to child transmission of COVID-19 infection, possible but rare,
study finds

Date:
March 17, 2022
Source:
University of Birmingham
Summary:
SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 infection, can be
transmitted from mother to baby before, during and after childbirth
-- but such occurrences are rare, a new study reveals.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 infection, can be transmitted
from mother to baby before, during and after childbirth -- but such
occurrences are rare, a new study reveals.


========================================================================== Overall, fewer than two per cent of babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-
2 infection also test positive for the virus, but they are more likely
to test positive when the women have severe COVID-19 or were diagnosed
after childbirth.

Experts also discovered that vaginal births and breast feeding do not
increase the likelihood of babies testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 when
their mothers have the infection.

An international research team, led by the University of Birmingham's WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women's Health, published its findings
today in BMJ after examining data from around the globe relating to more
than 14,000 babies born to mothers with COVID-19.

Overall, 1.8% of the 14,271 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2
infection tested positive for the virus using PCR tests.

Study lead Shakila Thangaratinam, Professor of Maternal and Perinatal
Health at the University of Birmingham, commented: "Ours is the first
study to use the World Health Organization's stringent methods to show
that it is possible for the virus to be spread from the mother to baby
while in the womb, during childbirth, and after delivery.

"However, parents and healthcare professionals can be reassured that
only a very small proportion of babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2
test positive.

This implies that the risks of infection to such babies are rare.

"Mothers should also be reassured about the low risk of viral transmission through vaginal birth, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding -- all
of which should be encouraged." Professor Thangaratinam added that
healthcare professionals and policy makers need to be aware of the
expected burden of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in babies, and that they can
be infected at any time during pregnancy and delivery - - highlights
the need for appropriate measures to reduce risk of viral transmission
in the postnatal period.

The research team recommends that, since babies born to mothers with
severe SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to test positive, they will need to be
tested after birth and monitored closely. Vaccination in pregnancy should
be further encouraged to prevent infection and severe disease in mothers.

The team will analyse new studies as further evidence becomes available
and also explore the effects that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and vaccination have on newborns.


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


========================================================================== Journal References:
1. John Allotey, Shaunak Chatterjee, Tania Kew, Andrea Gaetano, Elena
Stallings, Silvia Ferna'ndez-Garci'a, Magnus Yap, Jameela Sheikh,
Heidi Lawson, Dyuti Coomar, Anushka Dixit, Dengyi Zhou, Rishab
Balaji, Megan Littmoden, Yasmin King, Luke Debenham, Anna Clave'
Llavall, Kehkashan Ansari, Gurimaan Sandhu, Adeolu Banjoko,
Kate Walker, Keelin O'Donoghue, Madelon van Wely, Elizabeth van
Leeuwen, Elena Kostova, Heinke Kunst, Asma Khalil, Vanessa Brizuela,
Nathalie Broutet, Edna Kara, Caron Rahn Kim, Anna Thorson, Olufemi
T Oladapo, Javier Zamora, Mercedes Bonet, Lynne Mofenson, Shakila
Thangaratinam. SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring and timing
of mother-to-child transmission: living systematic review and
meta-analysis. BMJ, 2022; e067696 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-067696
2. Catherine McLean Pirkle. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother
to baby
is rare. BMJ, 2022; o593 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o593 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220317094734.htm

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