ObjectiveTo summarise currently reported neonatal cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection.MethodsA search strategy was designed to retrieve all articles published from 1 December 2019 to 12 May 2020, by combining the terms ‘coronavirus’ OR ‘covid’ OR ‘SARS-CoV-2’) AND (‘neonat*’ OR ‘newborn’) in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, MedRxiv, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review and the WHO COVID-19 database, with no language restrictions. Quality of studies was evaluated by using a specific tool for assessment of case reports and/or case series.ResultsTwenty-six observational studies (18 case reports and 8 case series) with 44 newborns with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the final analysis. Studies were mainly from China and Italy. Half of neonates had a documented contact with the infected mother and one out of three infected neonates was admitted from home. Median age at diagnosis was 5 days. One out of four neonates was asymptomatic, and the remaining showed mild symptoms typical of acute respiratory infections and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. The majority of neonates were left in spontaneous breathing (room air) and had good prognosis after a median duration of hospitalisation of 10 days.ConclusionsMost neonates with SARS-CoV-2 infection were asymptomatic or presented mild symptoms, generally were left in spontaneous breathing and had a good prognosis after median 10 days of hospitalisation. Large epidemiological and clinical cohort studies, as well as the implementation of collaborative networks, are needed to improve the understanding of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates.

Since February 21, 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has spread exponentially worldwide. Neonatal patients needing intensive care are considered a vulnerable population. To report the results of a policy based on multi-timepoint surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 of all neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), their parents, and all healthcare providers in a part of Italy with a high prevalence of the infection. Observational study conducted from 21 February to 21 April 2020. Intervention consisted of (a) parental triage on arrival at the neonatal ward; (b) universal testing with nasopharyngeal swabs and blood testing for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies; (c) use of continuous personal protective equipment at the NICU by parents and staff. A total of 6726 triage procedures were performed on 114 parents, and 954 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 226 individuals. Five (2.2%) asymptomatic individuals (2 parents and 3 healthcare providers) tested positive on nasopharyngeal swabs and were kept isolated for 14 days. Of 75 admitted newborn, no one tested positive on nasopharyngeal swabs or antibody tests. Three parents presented with fever or flu-like symptoms at triage; they tested negative on swabs. Conclusion: With universal screening of neonates, parents, and staff, there were no cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the neonates admitted to a NICU in an area with a high incidence of SARS-CoV-2. Our experience could be usefully compared with other strategies with a view to developing future evidence-based guidelines for managing high-risk neonates in case of new epidemics. What is Known: • The novel coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 has since spread worldwide at a remarkable rate, with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases. • Pediatric population may be less affected from COVID-19 than adult population but infants and newborn babies seem to be more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. What is New: • Using an approach based on triage; testing with nasopharyngeal swabs and serology; and use of personal protective equipment, there were no cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection among neonates in a NICU in a high incidence of SARS-CoV-2 area. • Positive and asymptomatic individuals were identified and isolated early allowing the containment of infection's spread among healthcare providers and parents.

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BackgroundNeonatal mortality remains a serious health issue especially in low resource countries, where 99% of neonatal deaths occur. Doctors with Africa CUAMM is an Italian non-governmental organization in the field of healthcare that has been working in Africa since 1955. In Mozambique, at the Central Beira Hospital (CBH), it has a project with the aim of supporting the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the Obstetrical Department of the CBH through a multi-level intervention. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of CUAMM continuous Quality Improvement intervention in terms of reduction of the overall neonatal mortality rate in the NICU of CBH.MethodsA baseline analysis was performed in order to assess the actual standard of neonatal care. Subsequently, the intervention was focused on three main areas: infrastructure, equipment and clinical protocols improvement. A retrospective pre- (2013)/post- (2014) implementation analysis of clinical outcomes was performed.ResultsTotal population included 4,276 newborns, 2,118 (50%) born in 2013 and 2158 (50%) born after implementation. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar apart from a higher incidence of outborn neonates (33% vs 30%, p = 0.02) and a lower incidence of Apgar score < 7 at 5 min (37% vs 43%, p < 0.01). The rates of admissions for asphyxia (22% vs 30%), sepsis (4% vs 7%) and prematurity (18% vs 28%) increased between the two study period. Mortality rate for each of these causes decreased from before to after the implementation: asphyxia (34% vs 19%, p < 0.01), sepsis (39% vs 28%, p = 0.06) and prematurity (43% vs 33%, p < 0.01).ConclusionWe found a reduction in mortality rate among newborns admitted to CBH’s NICU after the first year of CUAMM intervention. Most of this reduction can be attributed to the decrease in deaths for asphyxia, sepsis and prematurity. A Quality Improvement intervention based on infrastructural, equipment and clinical objectives was associated with a reduction of neonatal mortality rate in a low-resource NICU.