Care of the COVID-19 exposed complex newborn infant

Krishnamurthy, Ganga; Sahni, Rakesh; Leone, Tina; Kim, Faith; Brooks, Maria Cristina; Morales, Sylvia Villaraza-; Koziakova, Adriana; Mills, Cloyde; Capaci, Chaundra Passehl; Penn, Anna

As we confront COVID-19, the global public health emergency of our times, new knowledge is emerging that, combined with information from prior epidemics, can provide insights on how to manage this threat in specific patient populations. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), both caused by coronaviruses, caused serious respiratory illness in pregnant women that resulted in adverse perinatal outcomes. Thus far, COVID-19 appears to follow a mild course in the vast majority of pregnant women. A significant proportion of pregnant women appear to be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2. However, there is limited information on how COVID-19 impacts the fetus and whether vertical transmission occurs. While these knowledge gaps are addressed, it is important to recognize the highly efficient transmission characteristics of SARS-C0V-2 and its potential for causing serious disease in vulnerable individuals, including health care workers. This review provides perspectives from a single center in New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic within the United States. It offers an overview of the preparations required for deliveries of newborns of mothers with COVID-19 and the management of neonates with particular emphasis on those born with complex issues.