key: cord-0951160-wz5syddf
authors: Xue, Rui‐hong
title: Re: Maternal transmission of SARS‐COV‐2 to the neonate, and possible routes for such transmission: a systematic review and critical analysis
date: 2020-08-09
journal: BJOG
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16433
sha: fe0481394b7c30c2555023dfeffc5cc309104c8d
doc_id: 951160
cord_uid: wz5syddf

nan

We read with interest the article by Kate F. Walker and colleagues entitled 'Maternal transmission of SARS-COV-2 to the neonate, and possible routes for such transmission: a systematic review and critical analysis'. 1 In the article, the authors systematically analysed the mode of delivery on the infection rates of COVID-19 in the newborn. Despite the limitations, especially the retrospective nature of studies examined, this study provided important information about the selection of mode of delivery of women with COVID-19. It suggests that neonatal infection rates are not different after caesarean birth or vaginal delivery.

However, the severity of the COVID-19 infection of the mothers was not considered. Clinically, pregnant women with the more severe COVID-19 infection appear to prefer delivery by caesarean delivery rather than vaginal birth. 2-4 Therefore, it is possible that any beneficial effects of caesarean birth in reducing transmission of COVID-19 might not be apparent because the severity of COVID-19 infection was greater in these women. This selective bias would weaken the conclusions of current studies.

We feel that prospective evaluation of the safety of mode of delivery with COVID-19 is required. &

Maternal transmission of SARS-COV-2 to the neonate, and possible routes for such transmission: a systematic review and critical analysis

Emerging understandings of 2019-nCoV

Safe delivery for pregnancies affected by COVID-19

Prenatal anxiety and obstetric decisions among pregnant women in Wuhan and Chongqing during the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional study