To breastfeed or not to breastfeed? Lack of evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breastmilk of pregnant women with COVID-19
A rapid systematic review was carried out to evaluate the current evidence related to the presence of SARSCoV-2 in breast milk from pregnant women with COVID-19. Eight studies analyzing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the breast milk of 24 pregnant women with COVID-19 during the third trimester of...
Published in: | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English Spanish Portuguese |
Published: |
Pan American Health Organization
2020
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.59 https://doaj.org/article/fd8fbfae493644538d8961dc3aa294b6 |
Summary: | A rapid systematic review was carried out to evaluate the current evidence related to the presence of SARSCoV-2 in breast milk from pregnant women with COVID-19. Eight studies analyzing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the breast milk of 24 pregnant women with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy were found. All patients had fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness and chest computed tomography images indicative of COVID-19 pneumonia. Most pregnant women had cesarean delivery (91.7%) and two neonates had low birthweight (< 2 500 g). Biological samples collected immediately after birth from upper respiratory tract (throat or nasopharyngeal) of neonates and placental tissues showed negative results for the presence SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR test. No breast milk samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and, to date, there is no evidence on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk of pregnant women with COVID-19. However, data are still limited and breastfeeding of women with COVID-19 remains a controversial issue. There are no restrictions on the use of milk from a human breast milk bank. |
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