Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on neonates born to mothers with positive COVID-19 tests. Retrospective cohort study

Background and objectives. COVID-19 infection in pregnant women has an important impact on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. In the small group with critically ill mothers, the complications in the neonates are influenced more by the mother’s state of health than by the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of neonatal positive results on SARS-CoV-2 testing. Materials and methods. The retrospective cohort study included all newborns with positive results on SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing admitted to IMSP Mother and Child Institute Kishinev, Republic of Moldova, between 2020 and 2021. Analyzed data were extracted from the maternal and neonatal medical charts, focusing on gestational age, gender, birthweight, Apgar score, type of delivery, respiratory support, radiography findings, and the number of days spent in the NICU. Results. In the present study, of the total number of patients (47), only 7 neonates had a positive COVID-19 test. Two premature infants with a positive test did not suffer from respiratory distress, while the other five needed nasal CPAP (one term infant and four premature infants of 32, 33, and 34 weeks gestational age). There was a high prematurity rate (89.36%) and a high C-section delivery rate (74.4%). Conclusions. In conclusion, the results of our study have shown the direct impact of maternal COVID-19 infection on neonates, irrespective of whether the SARS-CoV-2 test was positive or negative.