Jie Yang,
Zhuxiao Ren,
Lingkong Zeng,
Shiwen Xia,
Lin Wang,
Jiayu Miao,
Zhe Zhao,
Chuanzhong Yang,
Xiuyong Cheng,
Huayan Zhang,
Yuanfang Zhu,
Li Liu,
Xirong Gao,
Bin Yi,
Zhenlang Lin,
Wei Liu,
Xiaoyu Zhou,
Benqing Wu,
Ling Chen,
Zhankui Li,
Xuefeng Zhang,
Wei Lu,
Lianhong Zhang,
Xiao Chen,
Xiaoyun Zhong,
Falin Xu,
Jinhui Wu,
Yong Ji,
Jiahua Pan,
Yanxiang Chen,
Carine Ronsmans,
Zhichun Feng,
on behalf of the Chinese Neonatologist Association
2022, 2(2): 94-102.
doi: 10.2478/fzm-2022-0013
Objective China was the first country suffering from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and one of the countries with stringent mother-neonate isolation measure implemented. Now increasing evidence suggests that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should not be taken as an indication for formula feeding or isolation of the infant from the mother. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 44 hospitals from 14 provinces in China to investigate the management of neonates whose mothers have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. In addition, 65 members of Chinese Neonatologist Association (CNA) were invited to give their comments and suggestions on the clinical management guidelines for high-risk neonates. Results There were 121 neonates born to 118 mothers suspected with COVID-19 including 42 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 positive results and 76 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 negative results. All neonates were born by caesarean section, isolated from their mothers immediately after birth and were formula-fed. Five neonates were positive for SARSCoV-2 at initial testing between 36 and 46 h after birth. Regarding the confusion on the clinical management guidelines, 58.78% of the newborns were put into isolation, 32.22% were subject to PCR tests, and 5.16% and 2.75% received breastfeeding and vaccination, respectively. Conclusion The clinical symptoms of neonates born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 were mild, though five neonates might have been infected in utero or during delivery. Given the favorable outcomes of neonates born to COVID-confirmed mothers, full isolation may not be warranted. Rather, separation of the mother and her newborn should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering local facilities and risk factors for adverse outcomes, such as prematurity and fetal distress.
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