ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the paradigm when it comes to infection control. However, there are still many doubts about pregnancy and the perinatal period in this context, even though many studies suggest the benignity of infection in this phase. The present study took place in a Level II Hospital with differentiated perinatal care and describes the newborns whose mothers were infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy. We aim to understand the mother-newborn pattern of transmission and clinical, analytical and serologic follow-up. Methods: Prospective observational study from 1/4/2020 to 31/5/2021, using the clinical files of every SARS-COV-2 PCR-positive mother and their newborns. Among others, we evaluated the state of infection of the newborn at 12 and 48h and after 14 days with SARS-Cov-2 PCR tests. In the first three months, serologic and clinical evaluation were performed. Results: Of the 1684 live births, 60 (3,6%) mothers were infected with SARS-COV-2 during pregnancy, 43% of which were diagnosed in the screening performed during/before labour. The median value of gestational age was 39 weeks, and the average weight was 3171g. 81,7% of the newborns remained with their mother in the hospital ward, and 85% were breastfed. 7 newborns (11,7%) needed NICU, one of which was born at 32 weeks because the mother needed ICU support due to COVID-19. Of the 26 newborns whose mothers were positive in labour, 15 were tested for SARS-Cov-2 PCR in the first 12 h, and 21 within 48h: all of them were negative.16 were tested after 14 days. Only one of them (6,2%) tested positive but remained asymptomatic. Serologic anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid analyses were performed in 32 babies: 10 of them (31.3%) showed positive antibodies. In these cases, 80% of the mothers were positive in the 3rd trimester and 20% in the 2nd trimester. The clinical follow-up showed a positive outcome in all of them. Conclusions: This study supports others that show the benignity of perinatal SARS-COV-2 infection. There were no more significant rates of prematurity or NICU need. None of the newborns tested positive in SARS-Cov-2 PCR tests in the first 48h, supporting the rarity of the vertical infection, and only one has been affected by horizontal transmission.
ABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed several constrains in the medical practice, especially in hematologic patients (pts) where a higher mortality rate is expected. In our center strict measures were implemented earlier, with the use of personal protective equipment, hand wash at all times, internal separated circuits, frequent prophylactic tests, teleconsultation and rapid isolation of positive cases. However, data is still limited and risk factors for increased susceptibility remain unclear. Aims: Characterize our pts with COVID-19 regarding the type of hematologic disease, the respective treatment, infection severity and identification of any possible risk factors that may have impact in the outcome. Methods: Pts with a positive quantitative RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swab between 18/03/2020 and 02/02/2021 were identified. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney-U tests were performed to identify statistical differences between groups and logistic binary regression to assess predictive risk factors. Severity of illness was defined by level of care [ambulatory, general inpatient wards and intensive care unit (ICU)], need for respiratory support, incidence of thrombotic events, acute kidney injury and/or death. Active hematologic treatment was defined as therapy within 6 months of COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: A total of 81 pts were identified, with a median age of 61 years (19-88), 52% were male, 63% had an ECOG PS 0 and 69% had at least one comorbidity (hypertension 36%, dyslipidemia 21%, cardiovascular disease 21%, diabetes mellitus 14% and pulmonary disease 11%). Regarding the hematologic disease, 83% had a neoplastic malignancy (non-Hodgkin lymphoma 30%, myeloproliferative neoplasms 16%, acute myeloid leukemia 11% and multiple myeloma 11%), 64% were in active treatment and 43% had active disease. Concerning the COVID-19 infection, 46% required hospital admission among which 65% needed respiratory support and 9% admitted to an ICU. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached (84% at 1 month) and the mortality rate was 17%, mainly in pts with active disease and neoplastic malignancy. Non-survival pts had a lower hemoglobin level (8,3g/dL vs 12g/dL;p-value 0,016), a higher CRP (218mg/L vs 22mg/L;p-value 0,041), acute renal failure (36% vs 6%;p-value 0,014), more need of respiratory support (71% vs 27%;p-value 0,004) and mechanical ventilation (21% vs 5%;p-value 0,022). There were no statistical differences regarding age, absolute lymphocyte count, platelet count and LDH. Regression analysis revealed hemoglobin level (p-value 0,026), CRP (p-value 0,05) and respiratory support (p-value 0,003) as predictive factors for death. In our pts there were no thrombotic events. Summary/Conclusion: Nearly half of the pts were admitted to the hospital and discharged. In our analysis low hemoglobin level, high CRP and respiratory support were associated with poorer survival, however, given our small sample, these findings need to be confirmed. Contrary to most of the published results, the number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases was surprisingly low, with only 81 cases in 11 months, with a mortality rate similar to the general population and lower than expected. We believe that implementing early and rigorous protective measures as well as create self-awareness may be the key to improve mortality rate in this highly susceptible population.
ABSTRACT
This article aims to describe and analyze a continuing education course for teachers for the inclusion of Special Education students in "Escolas das Aguas" (school in riverside areas) of Pantanal in Corumba (Brazil), held during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The methodological assumptions were based on in collaborative research, simultaneously seeking scientific research and teacher training based on an educational demand. For this, the research-training comprised four stages: application of a printed questionnaire to survey training demands;availability of an online form for enrollment in a continuing education course and optional padding of an online questionnaire on the professional profile;conducting the continuing education course - whose pandemic context brought changes in the execution format;and evaluation of the course. The information was analyzed in two axes: construction and evaluation of the continuing education course. It is expected that the work will contribute to reflections and actions between the university and the school.