ABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the impact of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants on brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 36 months corrected age (CA). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 203 preterm neonates of 24-32 weeks gestational age who were admitted between January and December 2017 at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a maternity hospital in Kuwait. The cases were stratified into no sepsis, early-onset sepsis (first onset of sepsis ≤ 72 hours postnatally), and LOS (> 72 hours postnatally). Brain injury was assessed from MRI records. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated at 36 months CA using Bayley-III scales of infant development. Results: Out of 203 neonates, 16 had early-onset sepsis with Klebsiella pneumonia and group B streptococcus, and 93 developed LOS with K. pneumonia and gram-positive cocci in clusters. There were no group-wise differences in the prevalence of intraventricular hemorrhage (n = 68) or white matter injury (n = 42). However, higher cerebellar hemorrhage risk (adjusted odds ratio = 4.6 (1.3-18.6; p = 0.030) was observed in LOS group. At 36 months CA, infants in the LOS group were more likely to have lower motor, cognitive, and language composite scores. After adjusting for gestational age, birth weight, cerebellar hemorrhage, and white matter injury, the relationship between LOS and lower motor scores remained significant (adjusted ß = -9.5, 95% CI: -16.4 to -2.7; p = 0.007), whereas the association with cognitive and language scores were no longer significant. Conclusions: LOS in preterm neonates significantly raises the risk of cerebellar hemorrhage and lower motor scores by three years of age.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women and newborns is incompletely understood. Preliminary data shows a rather fluctuating course of the disease from asymptomatic or mild symptoms to maternal death. However, it is not clear whether the disease increases the risk of pregnancy-related complications. The aim of the study is to describe the maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics and outcome of pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: In this retrospective national-based study, we analyzed the medical records of all pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their neonates who were admitted to New-Jahra Hospital (NJH), Kuwait, between March 15th 2020 and May 31st 2020. During the study period and as part of the public health measures, a total of 185 pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of symptoms, were hospitalized at NJH, and were included. Maternal and neonatal clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and treatments were collected. The outcomes of pregnancies included miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), preterm birth and live birth were assessed until the end date of the outcomes follow-up (November 10th 2020). RESULTS: A total of 185 pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 were enrolled with a median age of 31 years (interquartile range, IQR: 27.5-34), and median gestational age at diagnosis of SARS-CoV2 infection was 29 weeks (IQR: 18-34). The majority (88%) of these women had mild symptoms, with fever (58%) being the most common presenting symptom followed by cough (50.6%). At the time of the analysis, out of the 185, 3 (1.6%) of the pregnant women had a miscarriage, 1 (0.54%) had IUFD which was not related to COVID-19, 16 (8.6%) had ongoing pregnancies and 165 (89%) had a live birth. Only 2 (1.1%) of these women developed severe pneumonia and required intensive care. A total of 167 neonates with two sets of twins were born with median gestational age at birth was 38 (IQR: 36-39) weeks. Most of the neonates were asymptomatic, and only 2 of them tested positive on day 5 by nasopharyngeal swab testing. CONCLUSIONS: In this national-based study, most of the pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed mild symptoms. Although mother-to-child vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is possible, COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may not lead to unfavorable maternal and neonatal outcomes.
