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No infectious SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk from a cohort of 110 lactating women.
Krogstad, Paul; Contreras, Deisy; Ng, Hwee; Tobin, Nicole; Chambers, Christina D; Bertrand, Kerri; Bode, Lars; Aldrovandi, Grace M.
  • Krogstad P; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen Scool of Medicine at UCLAs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. pkrogstad@mednet.ucla.edu.
  • Contreras D; Departments of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. pkrogstad@mednet.ucla.edu.
  • Ng H; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen Scool of Medicine at UCLAs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
  • Tobin N; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen Scool of Medicine at UCLAs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
  • Chambers CD; Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen Scool of Medicine at UCLAs, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
  • Bertrand K; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
  • Bode L; Hebert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
  • Aldrovandi GM; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Pediatr Res ; 92(4): 1140-1145, 2022 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1634268
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Genomic RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been detected in the breast milk of lactating women, but its pathological significance has remained uncertain due to the small size of prior studies.

METHODS:

Breast milk from 110 lactating women was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (285 samples) and viral culture (160 samples). Those containing SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA (vRNA) were examined for the presence of subgenomic RNA (sgRNA), a putative marker of infectivity.

RESULTS:

Sixty-five women had a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test, 9 had symptoms but negative diagnostic tests, and 36 symptomatic women were not tested. SARS-CoV-2 vRNA was detected in the milk of 7 (6%) women with either a confirmed infection or symptomatic illness, including 6 of 65 (9%) women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test. Infectious virus was not detected in any culture and none had detectable sgRNA. In control experiments, infectious SARS-CoV-2 could be cultured after addition to breastmilk despite several freeze-thaw cycles, as it occurs in the storage and usage of human milk.

CONCLUSIONS:

SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be found infrequently in the breastmilk after recent infection, but we found no evidence that breastmilk contains an infectious virus or that breastfeeding represents a risk factor for transmission of infection to infants. IMPACT This article goes beyond prior small studies to provide evidence that infectious SARS-CoV-2 is not present in the milk of lactating women with recent infection, even when SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detected. Recent SARS-CoV-2 infection or detection of its RNA in human milk is not a contraindication to breastfeeding.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Mastitis Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Female / Humans / Infant / Male Language: English Journal: Pediatr Res Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41390-021-01902-y

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Mastitis Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Female / Humans / Infant / Male Language: English Journal: Pediatr Res Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41390-021-01902-y