scholarly journals Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: possible impact on the infant

Author(s):  
Patrick Morhart ◽  
Christian Mardin ◽  
Manfred Rauh ◽  
Jörg Jüngert ◽  
Johanna Hammersen ◽  
...  

AbstractThe risk and potential consequences of mother-to-child transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy are still a matter of debate. We studied the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on 56 complete households, including 27 newborns whose mothers were pregnant when exposed to the virus. Two PCR-confirmed perinatal SARS-CoV-2 transmissions with mild symptoms in affected neonates were recorded. In addition, we observed a severe eye malformation (unilateral microphthalmia, optic nerve hypoplasia, and congenital retinopathy) associated with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in weeks 5 and 6 of embryonic development. This embryopathy could not be explained by other infectious agents, genetic factors, drug use, or maternal disease during pregnancy. Eight other women with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to gestational week 12, however, delivered healthy infants.Conclusion: The repeated occurrence of mother-to-child transmission in our cohort with risks that remain incompletely understood, such as long-term effects and the possibility of an embryopathy, should sensitize researchers and stimulate further studies as well as support COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for pregnant women. Trial registration number: NCT04741412. Date of registration: November 18, 2020 What is Known:•Materno-fetal transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy has rarely been reported so far, but was demonstrated in isolated cases. What is New:•In a study of complete households with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, including a cohort of pregnant women, we observed perinatal coronavirus transmission at a higher frequency than expected.•We also describe a newborn boy with an eye malformation reminiscent of rubella embryopathy but associated with early gestation SARS-CoV-2 infection of his mother.•A coronavirus-related embryopathy, reported here for the first time, is a finding that requires further investigation.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Morhart ◽  
Christian Mardin ◽  
Manfred Rauh ◽  
Jörg Jüngert ◽  
Johanna Hammersen ◽  
...  

Abstract Possible mother-to-child transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy is still a matter of debate. We studied the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on 56 complete households, including 27 newborns whose mothers were pregnant when exposed to the virus. Three perinatal SARS-CoV-2 transmissions with mild symptoms in affected neonates were recorded (two cases confirmed by PCR, the third one based on clinical findings). In addition, we observed a severe eye malformation (unilateral microphthalmia, optic nerve hypoplasia, and congenital retinopathy) associated with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in weeks 5 and 6 of embryonic development. This embryopathy could not be explained by other infectious agents, genetic factors, or drug use during pregnancy. Eight other women with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to gestational week 12, however, delivered healthy infants.Conclusion: The repeated occurrence of mother-to-child transmission in our cohort with risks that remain incompletely understood, such as long-term effects and the possibility of an embryopathy, should sensitize researchers and stimulate further studies as well as strongly support COVID19 vaccination recommendations for pregnant women.Trial registration number: NCT04741412Date of registration: November 18, 2020


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa L. Dillabaugh ◽  
Jayne Lewis Kulzer ◽  
Kevin Owuor ◽  
Valerie Ndege ◽  
Arbogast Oyanga ◽  
...  

Many HIV-positive pregnant women and infants are still not receiving optimal services, preventing the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and improving maternal child health overall. A Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) approach was utilized to address key challenges in delivery of prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) services including highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) uptake for women and infants. The RRI was conducted between April and June 2011 at 119 health facilities in five districts in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Aggregated site-level data were compared at baseline before the RRI (Oct 2010–Jan 2011), during the RRI, and post-RRI (Jul–Sep 2011) using pre-post cohort analysis. HAART uptake amongst all HIV-positive pregnant women increased by 40% (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.7) and continued to improve post-RRI (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4–1.8). HAART uptake in HIV-positive infants remained stable (RR 1.1, 95% CI 0.9–1.4) during the RRI and improved by 30% (RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0–1.6) post-RRI. Significant improvement in PMTCT services can be achieved through introduction of an RRI, which appears to lead to sustained benefits for pregnant HIV-infected women and their infants.


2021 ◽  
pp. 095646242199021
Author(s):  
Remco PH Peters ◽  
Ute D Feucht ◽  
Lindsey de Vos ◽  
Phuti Ngwepe ◽  
James A McIntyre ◽  
...  

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transmitted from mother to neonate. We determined the frequency of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis to the newborn nasopharynx. Methods: This study was nested in a cohort study of etiologic testing versus syndromic management for STIs among pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa. Mothers were tested for STIs using the GeneXpert platform within 60 days after delivery. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from newborns of mothers with a positive STI test; these were then tested by Xpert® on the same day based on the maternal STI diagnosis. Results. We tested nasopharyngeal swabs from 85 STI-exposed newborns; 74 (87%) were tested within 2 weeks after birth (median five; range 2–12 days). MTCT frequency of any STI was 30/74 (41%); 43% (23/53) for C. trachomatis, 29% (2/7) for N. gonorrhoeae, and 24% (6/25) for T. vaginalis. Also, 4/11 (36%) swabs obtained between 14 and 60 days after delivery tested positive for STI. Conclusions: There was a high frequency of MTCT of STIs to the nasopharynx of newborns in our setting. The impact of nasopharyngeal colonization and the benefits of STI testing on newborn health remain to be determined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-389
Author(s):  
Ali Elgalib ◽  
Fatma Al-Hinai ◽  
Jamila Al-Abri ◽  
Samir Shah ◽  
Zeyana Al-Habsi ◽  
...  

Background: In January 2016, the National AIDS Programme (NAP) in Oman introduced a package of interventions, including capacity building for service providers, to improve the quality of HIV services. Aims: To report the impact of these interventions on the rate of vertical HIV transmission in the period from January 2016 to December 2019. We also describe the virological and obstetric outcomes for HIV-infected pregnant women. Methods: This was a medical record review of 94 HIV-positive pregnant women (median age 32 years; interquartile range 25-34 years) reported to NAP in 2016–2019. Results: There were 110 pregnancies in 94 women. The majority (75.3%, 61/81) of women were diagnosed with HIV infection from routine antenatal screening, with 60% (66/110) of pregnancies occurring in women who knew their HIV status at conception. Caesarean section was the most common (50%) mode of delivery. The preterm labour and low birth weight rates were 21.2% and 15.9%, respectively. The antiretroviral coverage during pregnancy was 95.5%, with most (87.8%) women reporting excellent or good adherence. The majority (81.6%) of women achieved HIV viral load of < 400 copies/ml at or near delivery. Almost all infants (99%) were given prophylactic antiretrovirals. The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV was 1%. Conclusion: The obstetric and virological outcomes for HIV-infected pregnant women delivered in 2016–2019 were favourable, with a low rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Oman is now in the process of finalizing application of World Health Organization validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Gajbhiye ◽  
Niraj N Mahajan ◽  
Rakesh Waghmare ◽  
Suchitra Vishwambhar Surve ◽  
Prashant Howal ◽  
...  

Introduction: Pregnant women are at increased risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to several factors and therefore require special attention. However, consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women and their newborns remain uncharted. The aim of PregCovid registry is to document the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant, post-partum women and their new-borns. The aim of the registry is also to determine mother to child transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in India. Methods and analysis: PregCovid is a hospital based registry for capturing information of pregnant, post-partum women with COVID-19 and their new-borns in India. Medical case records of pregnant and post-partum women with laboratory confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 will be captured in real time using an online electronic patient record (EPR) software. The frequency of each symptom will be calculated. The laboratory data will be analyzed for calculating the frequency of laboratory parameters consistently higher in women with COVID-19. The adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes will be analyzed and their frequency will be calculated. Response to treatment will be analyzed for frequency calculation (number of women treated with different treatment regimens). The mother to child transmission data will be analyzed from the RT-PCR and/ antibody data of neonatal and maternal samples tested wherever the information is available. The registry data will be crucial for developing strategies for reducing the adverse impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and their new-born. Ethics and dissemination: The study is approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (#55/2020), BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai, India (# 63/2020); and all the 18 participating study sites under Medical Education and Drugs Department of Government of Maharashtra. The Institutional Ethics Committees granted a waiver of consent as the data is collected from the medical case records. Trial registration number: CTRI/2020/05/025423


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Thuy Van Nguyen ◽  
Keith Sabin ◽  
Thi Quynh Trang Ho ◽  
Ai Kim Anh Le ◽  
Chika Hayashi ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program was introduced in Vietnam in 2005. Despite the scaling up of PMTCT programs, the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Vietnam was estimated as high as 20% in 2013. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of PMTCT and identified factors associated with mother-to-child transmission and infant survival using survey and program data in a high HIV burden province in Vietnam. METHODS This community-based retrospective cohort study observed pregnant women diagnosed with HIV infection in Thai Nguyen province from October 2008 to December 2012. Data were collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire and through reviews of log books and medical charts in antenatal care and HIV clinics. Logistic regression and survival analysis were used to analyze data using Stata (StataCorp). RESULTS A total of 172 pregnant women living with HIV were identified between 2008 and 2012. Most of these women had acquired the HIV infection from their husband (77/119, 64.7%). Significant improvement in the PMTCT program was documented, including reduction in late diagnosis of HIV for pregnant women from 62.5% in 2008 to 30% in 2012. Access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) improved, increasing from a rate of 18.2% (2008) to 70.0% (2011) for mothers and from 36.4% (2008) to 93.3% (2012) for infants. For infants, early diagnosis within 2 months of birth reached 66.7% in 2012 compared with 16.7% in 2009. Transmission rate reduced from 27.3% in 2008 to 6.7% in 2012. Late diagnosis was associated with increased risk for HIV transmission (odds ratio [OR] 14.7, 95% CI 1.8-121.4, P=.01), whereas ARV therapy for mother and infant in combination with infant formula feeding were associated with reduced risk for HIV transmission (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.001-0.1; P<.001). Overall survival rate for HIV-exposed infants at 12 months was 97.7%. CONCLUSIONS A combination of program and survey data measured the impact of prevention of HIV transmission from mother-to-child interventions. Significant improvement in access to the interventions was documented in Thai Nguyen province. However, factors that increased the risk of HIV transmission, such as late diagnosis, remain to be addressed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Shilalukey Ngoma ◽  
Tepa Nkumbula ◽  
Wilbroad Mutale ◽  
Chabala Chishala ◽  
Reuben Mbewe ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deogratius Bintabara ◽  
Athanase Lilungulu ◽  
Shakilu Jumanne ◽  
Mzee M. Nassoro ◽  
Bonaventura C. Mpondo

Abstract Background Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) is a recommended approach to screen for HIV to all pregnant women during antenatal care (ANC) visits, and all with HIV positive results have to be enrolled into prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program. However, little is known about the relationship between facility readiness and the uptake of PITC to pregnant women attending ANC in Tanzania. Therefore, this study assessed whether the facility readiness promotes the uptake of PITC to the pregnant women attending ANC for the purpose of improving the PMTCT interventions in Tanzania. Methods This study analyzed data for health facilities obtained from the 2014–2015 Tanzania service provision assessment survey. The Primary outcome measure was a composite variable (with score of 0–5) in which its higher scores indicates provision of high-quality of PITC. Also, facilities scored higher in the PMTCT service readiness index were considered to have high readiness to provide PMTCT services. In Poisson regression analyses, a series of models were fitted to assess whether there is an association between provision of high-quality of PITC and facility readiness. In all statistical analysis, a P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Out of 1853 included first-visit ANC consultations, only about one-third of pregnant women received all five components required for PITC. The mean percentage of PMTCT readiness score was moderate 63.96 [61.32–66.59]%. In adjusted model, we found that facility with high readiness to provide PMTCT services was significantly associated with the provision of high-quality of PITC (model 2: [β = 0.075, P = 0.00]). Conclusion In order to increase high-quality of PITC services, efforts should be made to improve the PMTCT facility readiness by increasing availability of trained staffs, diagnostic tools, and ARTs among health facilities in Tanzania.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798832110060
Author(s):  
Patrice Ngangue ◽  
Middle Fleurantin ◽  
Rheda Adekpedjou ◽  
Leonel Philibert ◽  
Marie-Pierre Gagnon

This mixed-methods study aimed to determine the level of male involvement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services in Haiti and identify barriers and associated factors. From May to June 2018, a questionnaire was used to measure the level of male involvement. Semistructured interviews with pregnant women were also conducted. Multivariate linear regression and qualitative content analyses were performed to explore factors associated and barriers to male partners’ involvement in PMTCT services. One hundred and two pregnant women living with HIV completed the questionnaire. About 47% of male partners had a high level of involvement. Specifically, 90% financially supported their spouse, and 82% knew her appointment date at the antenatal clinic (ANC). Only 25% of male partners accompanied their spouse to the ANC, and 19% routinely used a condom during sexual intercourse. Factors associated with male involvement in PMTCT were being married and sharing HIV status with the male partner. Male partners with a positive HIV status were more likely to be involved in PMTCT. Qualitative findings revealed that barriers to male involvement included the conflict between opening hours of the ANC and the male partner’s schedule, waiting time at the ANC, and the perception of antenatal care as being women’s business. Overall male partners’ involvement in PMTCT services is moderate. Gender relations, sociocultural beliefs, and care organization are likely to hinder this involvement. Developing and implementing contextually and culturally accepted strategies for male partners of pregnant women could contribute to strengthening their involvement in the PMTCT program.


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