ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal substance abuse and neonatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study of neonates admitted to the NICU and born to mothers with evidence of substance abuse pre-pandemic compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULT: We noted a significant increase in fentanyl (12% vs. 0.6%, p < 0.001) and tobacco use (64% vs. 33%, p < 0.001) during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic, including an increase in fentanyl use among mothers enrolled in opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) during the pandemic (32.3% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in preterm births (58% vs. 48%, p = 0.022) and lower birth weight (2315 ± 815 vs. 2455 ± 861 g, p = 0.049) during pandemic. CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in maternal fentanyl use during the pandemic, even with OMT enrollment, with an increase in preterm births and lower birth weights among infants born to mothers with substance use.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Premature Birth , Substance-Related Disorders , Pregnancy , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Female , Humans , Premature Birth/epidemiology , Pandemics , Cross-Sectional Studies , Birth Weight , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , FentanylABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We report here on the management and outcomes of neonates born to mothers with active perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, eligible neonates were enrolled in a database to track in-hospital outcomes and followed up outpatient periodically till 2 months of age to assess for late onset symptoms of infection. RESULTS: From April 2020 to February 2021, 67 mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and 70 at-risk neonates were included. Two neonates (3%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 48 h of life but remained asymptomatic during hospitalization and at all follow-up periods. Three infants were reported to have a febrile illness in 2 months follow up period, none of which was attributable to SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSION: Our data supports the emerging evidence which describes a probable low risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We also demonstrate a low risk of post-natal transmission or late-onset symptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2.