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. 2020 Apr 27:44:e59.
doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2020.59. eCollection 2020.

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed? Lack of evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breastmilk of pregnant women with COVID-19

Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho  1 , Victor Santana Santos  2 , Hudson P Santos Jr  3
Affiliations

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed? Lack of evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breastmilk of pregnant women with COVID-19

Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho et al. Rev Panam Salud Publica. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

A rapid systematic review was carried out to evaluate the current evidence related to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk from pregnant women with COVID-19. Eight studies analyzing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the breast milk of 24 pregnant women with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy were found. All patients had fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness and chest computed tomography images indicative of COVID-19 pneumonia. Most pregnant women had cesarean delivery (91.7%) and two neonates had low birthweight (< 2 500 g). Biological samples collected immediately after birth from upper respiratory tract (throat or nasopharyngeal) of neonates and placental tissues showed negative results for the presence SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR test. No breast milk samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and, to date, there is no evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk of pregnant women with COVID-19. However, data are still limited and breastfeeding of women with COVID-19 remains a controversial issue. There are no restrictions on the use of milk from a human breast milk bank.

Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática rápida para evaluar la evidencia disponible sobre la presencia de SARS-CoV-2 en la leche materna de mujeres embarazadas afectadas con COVID-19. Se encontraron ocho estudios que analizaron la presencia de ARN de SARS-CoV-2 en la leche materna de 24 mujeres embarazadas con COVID-19 durante el tercer trimestre del embarazo. Todas las pacientes tenían fiebre o síntomas de enfermedad respiratoria aguda e imágenes de tomografía computarizada de tórax indicativas de neumonía por COVID-19. La mayoría de las mujeres embarazadas (91,7%) tuvieron un parto por cesárea y dos neonatos presentaron bajo peso al nacer (< 2 500 g). Las muestras biológicas recogidas inmediatamente después del parto de las vías respiratorias superiores (faringe o nasofaringe) de los neonatos y los tejidos placentarios mostraron resultados negativos para SARS-CoV-2 mediante RT-PCR. Ninguna muestra de leche materna fue positiva para SARS-CoV-2 y, hasta la fecha, no hay evidencia de la presencia de SARS-CoV-2 en la leche materna de las mujeres embarazadas con COVID-19. Sin embargo, los datos disponibles todavía son limitados y la lactancia materna en las mujeres con COVID-19 sigue siendo un tema controvertido. No hay restricciones para el uso de leche materna de banco.

Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática rápida para avaliar as evidências atuais relacionadas à presença da SARS-CoV-2 no leite materno de mulheres grávidas com COVID-19. Foram encontrados oito estudos analisando a presença de RNA do SARS-CoV-2 no leite materno de 24 gestantes com COVID-19 durante o terceiro trimestre de gravidez. Todas as pacientes apresentavam febre ou sintomas de doença respiratória aguda e imagens de tomografia computadorizada do tórax indicativas de pneumonia pela COVID-19. A maioria das gestantes teve parto cesáreo (91,7%) e dois recém-nascidos tiveram baixo peso ao nascer (< 2 500 g). As amostras biológicas coletadas imediatamente após o nascimento do trato respiratório superior (faringe ou nasofaringe) de neonatos e tecidos placentários apresentaram resultados negativos para a presença do SARS-CoV-2 pelo teste RT-PCR. Nenhuma amostra de leite materno foi positiva para o SARS-CoV-2 e, até à data, não há evidências da presença do SARS-CoV-2 no leite materno de mulheres grávidas com COVID-19. No entanto, os dados ainda são limitados e a amamentação de mulheres com COVID-19 continua a ser uma questão controversa. Não há restrições ao uso de leite de um banco de leite materno humano.

Keywords: Coronavirus infection; SARS virus; breast feeding; pandemics; pneumonia, viral; virus diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest. None declared.

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