Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection: is this a vertical transmission?

Neonatal COVID-19, its manifestations and transmission, remains unclear. As the pandemic continues more evidence will emerge but so far, vertical transmission of COVID-19 is rare with just a few reports in the literature.¹ We share our experience of managing a preterm newborn with COVID-19 in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where the vertical route seems the most likely mode of transmission.

Femi Adeniyi
ST6 Paediatrics
femi.adeniyi@nhs.net

Sanjeev Rath
Neonatal Consultant
s.rath@nhs.net

Yewande Wey
MTI Fellow
yewande.wey@nhs.net

Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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Keywords

parent support; early language; literacy; interaction; family-integrated care

Key points

Infants born preterm have increased risk of communication and literacy problems.
Introducing literacy through access to a neonatal library is an important addition to family-integrated care.
Involving parents in early communication and literacy opportunities on the NNU can have significant benefits for parent-infant co-occupation and infant development.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 17/ISSUE 2, MARCH 2021

Parental access to neonatal units: inconsistency during the COVID-19 pandemic

An electronic survey was conducted to determine policy changes to parental access on neonatal units during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. The survey found that all responding units changed their policies and in many, parents were not allowed to visit their baby together. The survey highlights potential negative effects these policy changes are having on babies, their families and neonatal staff. Allowing parents to spend time with their baby together in a safe way during this pandemic should be a priority in neonatal care and this article considers ways in which the neonatal team can support this.