@article{Lopes da Costa_Vala_Aquino_Bilhota Xavier_2022, place={Porto, Portugal}, title={Management of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers and their offspring at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic}, volume={31}, url={https://revistas.rcaap.pt/nascercrescer/article/view/24593}, DOI={10.25753/BirthGrowthMJ.v31.i3.24593}, abstractNote={<p>Introduction: The uncertainty in SARS-CoV-2 modes of transmission, particularly regarding vertical and peripartum transmission, led national and international organizations to recommend (although not unanimously) the separation of newborns and mothers.<br />Material and Methods: To characterize the management of offspring of confirmed/suspected SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers in the postpartum, an online questionnaire was sent to Portuguese Pediatric and Neonatology heads of department of the Portuguese National Health Service during April and May, 2020. <br />Results: Twenty-five out of forty-four questionnaires were retrieved and included in the study. Results showed that healthcare workers (HCWs) wore FFP2 masks and face shield/goggles in 88% of hospitals while assisting in the delivery of offspring of confirmed/suspected SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers. In 8% of hospitals, mothers were allowed to have a labor partner. Newborns were separated from their mothers in 56% of hospitals and were not breastfed in 68%. Five newborns (4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection in a universe of 114 mothers with positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Newborn SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed with adequate swabs in 64% of hospitals, but the method employed varied among hospitals. Discharge criteria were also variable, with 45% of hospitals requiring a negative test result of the caregiver. <br />Conclusion: The use of personal protective equipment by HCPs during delivery of offspring of confirmed/suspected SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers complied with international recommendations. Although vertical transmission is a rare event, this study uncovered a 4% rate of SARS-CoV-2-positive newborns from positive mothers during the considered period. The development of national recommendations has the potential to avoid disparity of procedures among hospitals.</p>}, number={3}, journal={NASCER E CRESCER - BIRTH AND GROWTH MEDICAL JOURNAL}, author={Lopes da Costa, Mariana Isabel and Vala, Beatriz and Aquino, Joana and Bilhota Xavier, Júlio}, year={2022}, month={Oct.}, pages={201–205} }