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Review
. 2021 May 1;40(5):473-478.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003102.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pregnancy and Outcomes Among Pregnant Women and Neonates: A Literature Review

Elyse G Mark  1 , Samuel McAleese  1 , W Christopher Golden  1 , Maureen M Gilmore  1 , Anna Sick-Samuels  2 , Melanie S Curless  3 , Lawrence M Nogee  1 , Aaron M Milstone  2 , Julia Johnson  1
Affiliations
Review

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pregnancy and Outcomes Among Pregnant Women and Neonates: A Literature Review

Elyse G Mark et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. .

Abstract

Limited data are available about the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy and risk of vertical transmission in exposed neonates. We reviewed studies published February 1, 2020, through August 15, 2020, on outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 and neonates with perinatal exposure. Among pregnant women with COVID-19, 181 (11%) required intensive care unit admission and 123 (8%) required mechanical ventilation. There were 22 maternal deaths. Most infections occurred in the third trimester. Among women who delivered, 28% had a preterm birth, and 57% had a Caesarean section. Sixty-one (4%) of 1222 neonates with reported testing had at least 1 positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction test. The most common symptom among neonates was respiratory distress (n = 126; 21%). There were 14 neonatal deaths, one of which occurred in a neonate with positive testing. Further study of COVID-19 in pregnant women and neonates, including standardized reporting of outcomes, testing and treatment protocols, is essential to optimize maternal and neonatal care.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.S.S. is supported by the National Institutes of Health (KL2TR003099). A.M.M. is supported by the National Institutes of Health (K24AI141580). J.J. is supported by the National Institutes of Health (K23HD100594). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Comment in

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