Excretion of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk: a single-centre observational study

Abstract

BackgroundBreast feeding by SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers has been a concern because of the possibility of excretion of virus in breast milk.ObjectiveTo detect SARS-CoV-2 in expressed breast milk (EBM) of mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 and clinical outcome of neonates delivered and breast fed by them.DesignA single-centre, prospective observational study involving 50 SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers and their 51 neonates.SettingA tertiary care hospital in Eastern India.ParticipantsSARS-CoV-2-infected mothers and neonates delivered by them.Main outcome measuresWe investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the breast milk of mothers, who tested positive for this virus in their nasopharyngeal swab (NPS). Clinical outcome was assessed in neonates breast fed by these mothers after 1 month of the postnatal period.Results50 SARS-CoV-2-positive expectant mothers were enrolled for the study. One out of 51 neonates, who delivered through lower segment caesarean section at term gestation and tested SARS-CoV-2 negative, died due to severe birth asphyxia. One sample of EBM was collected from each of the 49 mothers within 4 days of delivery. All EBM samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 through real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). All the newborns were screened twice for presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in their NPS, by RT-PCR. 2 of 51 neonates had COVID-19 infection after 24 hours of life. Caregivers of 37 of 50 alive neonates responded to follow-up via telephone. Except for minor feed intolerance in one (1 of 37) neonate, all neonates were reported well after 1 month of their age.ConclusionAll the samples of breast milk were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Most of the neonates remained asymptomatic on breast feeding, whose mothers had SARS-CoV-2 infection before delivery.

Promoção Da Saúde Da Mulher

“…No entanto, outras vias de infecção são possíveis e não dispensáveis para transmissão do vírus durante o contato mãe/filho, ao exemplo do contato e por meio as gotículas respiratórias da mãe, além das lesões mamárias que são geradas pela sucção, como trauma mamilar, já que os recém-nascidos possuem o sistema imunológico imaturo, assim, os tornam vulneráveis. Sendo assim, medidas como uso de máscaras faciais durante o AM, lavagem das mãos adequadas antes de coletar o leite materno, o berço com distância mínima de 1,5 a 2 metros de distância da cama da mãe e os cuidados com a pega e sucção, são importantes para evitar a transmissão para o bebê (GAO et al, 2020;PENG et al, 2020;PRASAD et al, 2021). da família e do bebê, estão relacionados a fatores de riscos à prática da amamentação, por acometer a saúde mental das mães (PIANKUSOL et al, 2021).…”

Breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Notably infectious virus was not found in any of the cultures nor was any subgenomic viral RNA a putative marker for infectivity found ( 47 ). Another study ( 71 ) enrolled 50 pregnant women all of whom were SARS-COV-2 positive. Only expressed breast milk samples from 49 mothers were analysed as one neonate who was delivered by caesarean section at term demised from severe birth asphyxia 4 days after birth.…”

“…All the breast milk samples were negative for the virus. Thus breast milk is an unlikely vehicle for transmission ( 71 ). And as yet, Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) of COVID-19 through breast milk and breastfeeding has not been known ( 112 , 113 ).…”