Perinatal Transmission and Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

ABSTRACT

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection can adversely afect the birth and neonatal outcomes. The authors prospectively enrolled 196 neonates born to 193 SARS-CoV-2–positive mothers to determine the rate of mother-to-baby transmission of SARSCoV-2 and its efect on short-term neonatal outcomes in Indian population. Nineteen babies turned out to be RT-PCR– positive for SARS-CoV-2, carrying a perinatal transmission rate of 9.8%. Rates of prematurity and low birth weight were 12.8% and 18.9% in the neonatal group, respectively. On comparing SARS-CoV-2–positive (n=19) and negative (n=177) neonatal groups, rate of prematurity, hospital admission rate, and death rate were higher in the former group. The placental positivity rate for SARS-CoV-2 was 8.1%, but no relation was found between placental and neonatal infection.