key: cord-0872166-s75eleso
authors: Belingheri, Michael; Paladino, Maria Emilia; Riva, Michele Augusto
title: Healthcare Workers: Pregnancy and Coronavirus
date: 2020-11-19
journal: J Occup Environ Med
DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002088
sha: 01351578aa2e8acfa2aa7956dd3a7d0f1d10f002
doc_id: 872166
cord_uid: s75eleso

nan

O ur letter faced for the first time the issue of the protection of pregnancy in healthcare workers (HCWs) during the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. 1 Although there were only few studies about the impact of coronavirus infection on pregnant women and their fetus, we stated that pregnant HCWs should not be exposed to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.

We would thank the Authors of the letter ''Protecting Pregnant Healthcare Workers'' to have stressed this important topic, updating current scientific findings about pregnancy and COVID-19. 2 As reported by the Authors, according to latest studies, pregnant women seem to be at higher risk for complications in case of coronavirus infection. This confirm that pregnant women should not be exposed to a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission during work activities.

We take the opportunity to report that the issue COVID-19 and pregnancy in healthcare settings is a concern not only for pregnant HCWs, but also for HCWs who take care for pregnant women, that may be affected from COVID-19. Those HCWs, especially midwives, are generally exposed to a higher biological risk during childbirth. 3 In fact, midwives may be at higher risk of contracting infections because of their close contact with patients, who could generate aerosol while they cough, shout or vomit during labor. 4, 5 Further studies are needed, not only for the effects of coronavirus on pregnancy, but also for assessing the risk of infection transmission to HCWs during childbirth and during pregnant women's care.

School of Medicine and Surgery University of Milano-Bicocca Monza, Italy

Risk exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnant healthcare workers

Protecting pregnant healthcare workers

Occupational risks in midwifery: from bernardino ramazzini to modern times

Obstetrics and COVID-19

Protecting labor and delivery personnel from COVID-19 during the second stage of labor

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.