tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Lancet Reg Health West Pac
. 2020 Nov;4:100045.
doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100045. Epub 2020 Nov 10.
A study of breastfeeding practices, SARS-CoV-2 and its antibodies in the breast milk of mothers confirmed with COVID-19
Sicong Peng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Huaping Zhu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lixia Yang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Li Cao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiaona Huang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Michelle Dynes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Anuradha Narayan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jianbo Xia[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Yang Chen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pei Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongyan Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hua Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shiwen Xia[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The possibility of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission to neonates through breast milk remains unverified.
Methods: This paper presents the interim results of a longitudinal study being carried out in Hubei province. As of 1 April 2020, 24 mothers confirmed with COVID-19, 19 mothers suspected with COVID-19 but Polymerase chain reaction negative, and 21 mothers without COVID-19 and their neonates have been recruited. Telephone follow-up was conducted to collect information on breastfeeding practices. Forty-four breast milk samples were collected from 16 of the 24 mothers with confirmed COVID-19 for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) ribonucleic acid (RNA) and antibodies (IgM and IgG) testing.
Findings: The average mother-child separation time was 36?7 ? 21?1 days among mothers confirmed with COVID-19, significantly longer than that of the suspected group (16?6 ? 13?1 days) and control group (10?5 ? 8?2 days). Both the COVID-19 confirmed (58?3%) and suspected (52?6%) groups presented significantly lower rates of breastfeeding as compared with the control group (95?2%). All 44 breast milk samples tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Thirty-eight breast milk samples underwent antibody testing and all tested negative for IgG. Twenty-one breast milk samples from 8 women tested positive for IgM, while the remaining samples from 11 women tested negative.
Interpretation: Considering the lack of evidence for SARS-CoV-2 transmission through breast milk, breastfeeding counselling along with appropriate hand hygiene precautions and facemasks should be provided to all pregnant women.
Funding: The study was funded by the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF.
Keywords: Antibody; Breast milk; Breastfeeding; COVID-19; Neonate.
. 2020 Nov;4:100045.
doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100045. Epub 2020 Nov 10.
A study of breastfeeding practices, SARS-CoV-2 and its antibodies in the breast milk of mothers confirmed with COVID-19
Sicong Peng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Huaping Zhu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lixia Yang[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Li Cao[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiaona Huang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Michelle Dynes[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Anuradha Narayan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jianbo Xia[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Yang Chen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Pei Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongyan Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hua Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Shiwen Xia[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34013217
- PMCID: PMC7654387
- DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100045
Abstract
Background: The possibility of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission to neonates through breast milk remains unverified.
Methods: This paper presents the interim results of a longitudinal study being carried out in Hubei province. As of 1 April 2020, 24 mothers confirmed with COVID-19, 19 mothers suspected with COVID-19 but Polymerase chain reaction negative, and 21 mothers without COVID-19 and their neonates have been recruited. Telephone follow-up was conducted to collect information on breastfeeding practices. Forty-four breast milk samples were collected from 16 of the 24 mothers with confirmed COVID-19 for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) ribonucleic acid (RNA) and antibodies (IgM and IgG) testing.
Findings: The average mother-child separation time was 36?7 ? 21?1 days among mothers confirmed with COVID-19, significantly longer than that of the suspected group (16?6 ? 13?1 days) and control group (10?5 ? 8?2 days). Both the COVID-19 confirmed (58?3%) and suspected (52?6%) groups presented significantly lower rates of breastfeeding as compared with the control group (95?2%). All 44 breast milk samples tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Thirty-eight breast milk samples underwent antibody testing and all tested negative for IgG. Twenty-one breast milk samples from 8 women tested positive for IgM, while the remaining samples from 11 women tested negative.
Interpretation: Considering the lack of evidence for SARS-CoV-2 transmission through breast milk, breastfeeding counselling along with appropriate hand hygiene precautions and facemasks should be provided to all pregnant women.
Funding: The study was funded by the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF.
Keywords: Antibody; Breast milk; Breastfeeding; COVID-19; Neonate.