Vertical transmission and COVID-19: a scoping review

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze available evidence related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vertical transmission. Methods: Scoping review, according to the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted in five electronic databases to find publications about coronavirus infection and vertical transmission. Data were extracted, analyzed and synthesized by three independent researchers using a descriptive approach. Results: The search resulted in 76 publications. After selective steps, 15 articles – retrospective descriptive or case studies – were analyzed, all in English. In order to track the infection, specimens were collected from neonates through nasal swabs and C-reactive protein from breast milk, cord blood, amniotic fluid, placenta and vaginal secretion was analyzed. A small percentage of neonates tested positive for COVID-19, but these cases were not attributed to vertical transmission. Conclusion: Vertical transmission could not be demonstrated. Research protocol registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/fawmv).

摘要 研究目的：分析与新型冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2）感染及垂直传播相关的现有研究证据。研究方法：本研究为范围综述，严格遵循乔安娜·布里格斯研究所（Joanna Briggs Institute）指南及PRISMA范围综述扩展声明（PRISMA-ScR）开展。在5个电子数据库中进行检索，以获取关于冠状病毒感染与垂直传播的相关文献。由3名独立研究者采用描述性研究方法对提取的数据进行分析与综合。研究结果：本次检索共获得76篇文献。经过筛选流程后，最终纳入15篇均以英文发表的回顾性描述性研究或病例报告进行分析。为追踪感染情况，研究人员通过鼻拭子采集新生儿标本，并对母乳、脐带血、羊水、胎盘及阴道分泌物中的C反应蛋白进行检测分析。仅有极少数新生儿的新冠病毒（COVID-19）检测结果呈阳性，但此类病例并未被归因于垂直传播。研究结论：本研究未证实存在新型冠状病毒垂直传播现象。本研究方案已在开放科学框架（Open Science Framework, OSF）注册（https://osf.io/fawmv）。