A study of breastfeeding practices, SARS-CoV-2 and its antibodies in the breast milk of mothers confirmed with COVID-19.
Lancet Reg Health West Pac
; 4: 100045, 2020 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1235945
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The possibility of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission to neonates through breast milk remains unverified.METHODS:
This paper presents the interim results of a longitudinal study being carried out in Hubei province. As of 1 April 2020, 24 mothers confirmed with COVID-19, 19 mothers suspected with COVID-19 but Polymerase chain reaction negative, and 21 mothers without COVID-19 and their neonates have been recruited. Telephone follow-up was conducted to collect information on breastfeeding practices. Forty-four breast milk samples were collected from 16 of the 24 mothers with confirmed COVID-19 for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) ribonucleic acid (RNA) and antibodies (IgM and IgG) testing.FINDINGS:
The average mother-child separation time was 36â¢7 ± 21â¢1 days among mothers confirmed with COVID-19, significantly longer than that of the suspected group (16â¢6 ± 13â¢1 days) and control group (10â¢5 ± 8â¢2 days). Both the COVID-19 confirmed (58â¢3%) and suspected (52â¢6%) groups presented significantly lower rates of breastfeeding as compared with the control group (95â¢2%). All 44 breast milk samples tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Thirty-eight breast milk samples underwent antibody testing and all tested negative for IgG. Twenty-one breast milk samples from 8 women tested positive for IgM, while the remaining samples from 11 women tested negative.INTERPRETATION:
Considering the lack of evidence for SARS-CoV-2 transmission through breast milk, breastfeeding counselling along with appropriate hand hygiene precautions and facemasks should be provided to all pregnant women.FUNDING:
The study was funded by the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Journal:
Lancet Reg Health West Pac
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.lanwpc.2020.100045
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