Abstract
The aim of this review was threefold: (a) to retrieve all SARS-CoV-2 evidences published by Italian neonatologists working in maternity centers and NICUs during the pandemic; (b) to summarize current evidence for the management of term and preterm infants with a SARS-CoV-2-related illness; and (c) to provide an update for dealing with the second wave of COVID-19 and discuss open questions. A review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed and the national COVID-19 registry of the Italian Society of Neonatology including citations from December 1, 2019 to October 28, 2020. Sixty-three articles were included. Collected data were divided into the following topics: (a) antenatal management, (b) management in delivery room, (c) postnatal management, (d) mother–baby dyad and breastfeeding management, (e) neonatal emergency transport system reorganization, (f) parents’ management and perspective during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and (g) future perspective. Evidences have evolved over the pandemic period and the current review can be useful in the management of the mother–neonate dyad during SARS-CoV-2 future waves. Italian neonatologists have played an active role in producing official guidelines and reporting data that have contributed to improve the care of neonates. A joint European action plan is mandatory to face COVID-19 in neonates with more awareness.
Impact
-
A joint European action plan is mandatory to face COVID-19 in neonates with more awareness.
-
This review summarizes the available evidences from neonatal COVID-19 management in Italy analyzing all the published paper in this specific field of interest.
-
The current review can be useful in the management of the mother–neonate dyad during the SARS-CoV-2 future waves.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
WHO. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) weekly epidemiological update and weekly operational update. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports (2020).
Dong, Y. et al. Epidemiology of COVID-19 among children in China. Pediatrics 145, e20200702 (2020).
Raschetti, R. et al. Synthesis and systematic review of reported neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nat. Commun. 11, 5164 (2020).
Trevisanuto, D. et al. Coronavirus infection in neonates: a systematic review. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-319837 (2021).
Genoni, G. et al. Management and nutrition of neonates during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of the existing guidelines and recommendations. Am. J. Perinatol. 37, S46–S53 (2020).
Società Italiana di Neonatologia. Allattamento e gestione del neonato in corso di pandemia da SARS-COV-2. Versione 3, 10 maggio 2020. https://www.sin-neonatologia.it/ (2020).
Liberati, A. et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ 339, b2700 (2009).
Chandrasekharan, P. et al. Neonatal resuscitation and postresuscitation care of infants born to mothers with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Am. J. Perinatol. 37, 813–824 (2020).
Di Mascio, D. et al. Outcome of Coronavirus spectrum infections (SARS, MERS, COVID 1 -19) during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2, 100107 (2020).
De Rose, D. U. et al. Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in newborns and infants: what we know so far. Ital. J. Pediatr. 46, 56 (2020).
Ferrazzi, E. et al. Vaginal delivery in SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant women in Northern Italy: a retrospective analysis. BJOG https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16278 (2020).
Canarutto, D. et al. COVID-19 infection in a paucisymptomatic infant: raising the index of suspicion in epidemic settings. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 55, E4–E5 (2020).
De Rose, D. U. et al. Use of disinfectant wipes to sanitize milk’s containers of human milk bank during COVID-19 pandemic. J. Hum. Lact. 36, 547–549 (2020).
Salvatori, G. et al. Managing COVID-19-positive maternal-infant dyads: an Italian experience. Breastfeed. Med. 15, 347–348 (2020).
Perrone, S. et al. Lack of viral transmission to preterm newborn from a COVID-19 positive breastfeeding mother at 11 days postpartum. J. Med. Virol. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26037 (2020).
Perrone, S. et al. Report of a series of healthy term newborns from convalescent mothers with COVID-19. Acta Biomed. 91, 251–255 (2020).
Pietrasanta, C. et al. Management of the mother-infant dyad with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in a highly epidemic context. J. Neonatal Perinatal Med. 13, 307–311 (2020).
Lista, G. & Bresesti, I. Fatherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic: an unexpected turnaround. Early Hum. Dev. 144, 105048 (2020).
Cavicchiolo, M. E. et al. Neonatal emergency transport system during COVID-19 pandemic in the Veneto Region: proposal for standard operating procedures. Pediatr. Res. 89, 399–401 (2020).
Shalish, W., Lakshminrusimha, S., Manzoni, P., Keszler, M. & Sant’Anna, G. M. COVID-19 and neonatal respiratory care: current evidence and practical approach. Am. J. Perinatol. 37, 780–791 (2020).
Trevisanuto, D. et al. Neonatal resuscitation where the mother has a suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection: suggestion for a pragmatic action plan. Neonatology 117, 133–140 (2020).
Liguoro, I. et al. SARS-COV-2 infection in children and newborns: a systematic review. Eur. J. Pediatr. 179, 1029–1046 (2020).
Procianoy, R. S., Silveira, R. C., Manzoni, P. & Sant’Anna, G. Neonatal COVID-19: little evidence and the need for more information. J. Pediatr. 96, 269–272 (2020).
Buonsenso, D. et al. Neonatal late onset infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Am. J. Perinatol. 37, 869–872 (2020).
Saccone, G., Carbone, F. I. & Zullo, F. The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in pregnancy: what we need to know. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 249, 92–93 (2020).
Terheggen, U. et al. European consensus recommendations for neonatal and paediatric retrievals of positive or suspected COVID-19 patients. Pediatr. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1050-z (2020).
Lavizzari, A. et al. International comparison of guidelines for managing neonates at the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Pediatr. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-0976-5 (2020).
Bellini, C. & Gente, M. Neonatal transport and COVID-19 outbreak. Air Med. J. 39, 154–155 (2020).
Trevisanuto, D. et al. Management of mothers and neonates in low-resources setting during Covid-19 pandemia. J. Matern. Fetal Neonatal Med. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2020.1784873 (2020).
Carosso, A. et al. Pre-labor anorectal swab for SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 pregnant patients: is it time to think about it? Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 249, 98–99 (2020).
Cavicchiolo, M. E., Lolli, E., Trevisanuto, D. & Baraldi, E. Managing a tertiary-level NICU in the time of COVID-19: lessons learned from a high-risk zone. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 55, 1308–1310 (2020).
De Rose, D. U. et al. Reshaping neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to avoid the spread of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to high-risk infants. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.310 (2020).
Morniroli, D. et al. Human sialome and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: an understated correlation? Front. Immunol. 11, 1480 (2020).
Marino, S., Ruggieri, M. & Falsaperla, R. Is SARSCoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab still a gold standard in children? Med. Hypotheses 144, 110041 (2020).
Bellini, C. COVID-19 outbreak impact on neonatal emergency transport. Pediatr. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1027-y (2020).
Ferrazzi, E. M. et al. COVID-19 Obstetrics Task Force, Lombardy, Italy: executive management summary and short report of outcome. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 149, 377–378 (2020).
Trippella, G. et al. COVID-19 in pregnant women and neonates: a systematic review of the literature with quality assessment of the studies. Pathogens 9, 485 (2020).
Manzoni, P. et al. Impact of COVID-19 epidemics in paediatric morbidity and utilisation of Hospital Paediatric Services in Italy. Acta Paediatr. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15435. (2020).
Procianoy, R. S., Silveira, R. C., Manzoni, P. & Sant’Anna, G. Neonatal COVID-19: little evidence and the need for more information. J. Pediatr. 96, 269–272 (2020).
Davanzo, R. Breast feeding at the time of COVID-19: do not forget expressed mother’s milk, please. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 105, 455 (2020).
Buonsenso, D. et al. Clinical role of lung ultrasound for diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women. Ultrasound Obstet. Gynecol. 56, 106–109 (2020).
Tassis, B. et al. Effectiveness of a COVID-19 screening questionnaire for pregnant women at admission to an obstetric unit in Milan. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 150, 124–126 (2020).
Sinelli, M. et al. Early neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection manifesting with hypoxemia requiring respiratory support. Pediatrics 146, e20201121 (2020).
Marzollo, R. et al. Possible coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and pregnancy: vertical transmission is not excluded. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 39, e261–e262 (2020).
Martinelli, I. et al. Pulmonary embolism in a young pregnant woman with COVID-19. Thromb. Res. 191, 36–37 (2020).
De Bernardo, G. et al. The clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 positive neonates. J. Perinatol. 40, 1462–1469 (2020).
Pietrasanta, C. et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection and neonates: a review of evidence and unresolved questions. Pediatr. Allergy Immunol. 31, 79–81 (2020).
Della Gatta, A. N. et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 during pregnancy: a systematic review of reported cases. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 223, 36–41 (2020).
Parazzini, F. et al. Delivery in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2: a fast review. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 150, 41–46 (2020).
Davanzo, R. et al. Breastfeeding and coronavirus disease-2019: ad interim indications of the Italian Society of Neonatology endorsed by the Union of European Neonatal & Perinatal Societies. Matern. Child Nutr. 16, e13010 (2020).
Huntley, B. J. F. et al. Rates of maternal and perinatal mortality and vertical transmission in pregnancies complicated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Co-V-2) infection: a systematic review. Obstet. Gynecol. 136, 303–312 (2020).
De Luca, D. et al. The EPICENTRE (ESPNIC Covid pEdiatric Neonatal Registry) initiative: background and protocol for the international SARS-CoV-2 infections registry. Eur. J. Pediatr. 179, 1271–1278 (2020).
Cavicchiolo, M. E. et al. Universal screening of high-risk neonates, parents, and staff at a neonatal intensive care unit during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Eur. J. Pediatr. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03765-7 (2020).
Savasi, V. M. et al. Clinical findings and disease severity in hospitalized pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Obstet. Gynecol. 136, 252–258 (2020).
Molloy, E. J. et al. Neonates in the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatr. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1096-y (2020).
Lugli, L. et al. An uninfected preterm newborn inadvertently fed SARS-CoV-2-positive breast milk. Pediatrics 146, e2020004960 (2020).
Manzoni, P. et al. Uncommon presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 infection in a child. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 39, e212–e213 (2020).
Zannin, E. et al. Bacterial-viral filters to limit the spread of aerosolized respiratory pathogens during neonatal respiratory support in a pandemic era. Pediatr. Res. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1102-4 (2020).
Davanzo, R., Merewood, A. & Manzoni, P. Skin-to-skin contact at birth in the COVID-19 era: in need of help! Am. J. Perinatol. 37, S1–S4 (2020).
Bembich, S. et al. Parents experiencing NICU visit restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Paediatr. 110, 940–941 (2020).
WAPM (World Association of Perinatal Medicine) Working Group on COVID-19. Maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ultrasound Obstet. Gynecol. 57, 232–241 (2021).
Caporali, C. et al. Challenges and opportunities for early intervention and neurodevelopmental follow-up in preterm infants during COVID-19 pandemic. Child Care Health Dev. 47, 140–141 (2020).
Salvatori, G. et al. Universal screening for SARS-CoV-2 of all human milk bank samples. J. Hum. Lact. 37, 40–42 (2020).
Auriti, C. et al. Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): are hypotheses more than evidences? Am. J. Perinatol. 37, S31–S38 (2020).
Sperotto, F. et al. Unplanned and medical admissions to pediatric intensive care units significantly decreased during COVID-19 outbreak in Northern Italy. Eur. J. Pediatr. 180, 643–648 (2020).
Costa, S. et al. Excretion of SARS-CoV-2 in human breast milk. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 26, 1430–1432 (2020).
Lubrano, R. et al. Point of view of the Italians pediatric scientific societies about the pediatric care during the COVID-19 lockdown: what has changed and future prospects for restarting. Ital. J. Pediatr. 46, 142 (2020).
Bertino, E. et al. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in milk from COVID-19 positive mothers and follow-up of their infants. Front. Pediatr. 8, 597699 (2020).
Galderisi, A. et al. The aftermath of SARS-CoV-2 in NICU: saving or checking accounts? Projected cost-effectiveness analysis. Eur. J. Pediatr. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03884-1 (2021).
Ronchi, A. et al. Evaluation of rooming-in practice for neonates born to mothers with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in Italy. JAMA Pediatr. 175, 260–266 (2021).
Horton, R. Offline: Europe and COVID-19-struggling with tragedy. Lancet 396, 1713 (2020).
Wang, L. et al. Chinese expert consensus on the perinatal and neonatal management for the prevention and control of the 2019 novel coronavirus infection (first edition). Ann. Transl. Med. 8, 47 (2020).
Brookman, S. et al. Effect of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 on children and young people. Lancet Child Adolesc. Health 5, e9–e10 (2021).
CDC. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and breastfeeding. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/maternal-or-infant-illnesses/covid-19-and-breastfeeding.html (2020).
Verma, S. et al. Outcomes of maternal- newborn dyads after maternal SARS-CoV-2. Pediatrics 146, e2020005637 (2020).
Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Indicazioni ad interim per gravidanza, parto, allattamento e cura dei piccolissimi 0-2 anni in risposta all’emergenza COVID-19. https://www.iss.it (2021).
Società Italiana di Neonatologia. Indicazioni ad interim su Vaccinazione contro il COVID - 19 in gravidanza e allattamento. https://www.sin-neonatologia.it/indicazioni-ad-interim-su-vaccinazione-contro-il-covid-19-in-gravidanza-e-allattamento/ (2021).
CDC. Vaccine recommendations and guidelines of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/vacc-specific/covid-19/clinicalconsiderations.html (2021).
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Vaccinating pregnant and lactating patients against COVID-19. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinicalguidance/practiceadvisory/articles/2020/12/vaccinating-pregnant-and-lactating-patients-against-covid-19 (2021).
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Considerations for COVID-19 vaccination in lactation. https://www.bfmed.org/abm-statement-considerations-for-covid-19-vaccination-in-lactation (2021).
Paul, G. & Chad, R. Newborn antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detected in cord blood aftermaternal vaccination - a case report. BMC Pediatr. 2021;21:138.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
M.E.C. wrote the initial draft and revised the literature and approved the final manuscript as submitted. D.T. contributed to write the draft and revised the literature and approved the final manuscript as submitted. E.P. and L.M. critically reviewed the manuscript. F.M. provided relevant expertize and critically reviewed the manuscript. E.B. contributed to the study concept, study design, and writing of the manuscript and critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Patient consent
Patient consent was not required.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cavicchiolo, M.E., Trevisanuto, D., Priante, E. et al. Italian neonatologists and SARS-CoV-2: lessons learned to face coming new waves. Pediatr Res 91, 513–521 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01477-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01477-8
This article is cited by
-
Lessons learned in caring for newborns from one viral outbreak to the next
Pediatric Research (2024)