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An Uninfected Preterm Newborn Inadvertently Fed SARS-CoV-2-Positive Breast Milk

Licia Lugli1, Luca Bedetti2, Laura Lucaccioni2

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care, lugli.licia@policlinico.mo.it.

Pediatrics
|August 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Breast milk from mothers with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may protect newborns from infection. A healthy newborn fed SARS-CoV-2 positive breast milk did not become infected, suggesting a protective role of breast milk.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Concerns about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 are rising globally.
  • Management of neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 varies, with some societies advocating breastfeeding.
  • The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via breast milk is considered hypothetical due to rare detection.

Observation:

  • A case report details a healthy preterm newborn inadvertently fed SARS-CoV-2 positive breast milk.
  • Breast milk samples, collected with and without strict hygiene, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
  • The newborn did not become infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Findings:

  • The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk does not guarantee neonatal infection.
  • Breast milk may possess protective properties against SARS-CoV-2 transmission to neonates.
  • Practical challenges exist in managing neonates born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers.

Implications:

  • This case supports the safety and benefits of breastfeeding for infants born to mothers with COVID-19.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of potential protective factors in breast milk.
  • Standardized guidelines for managing breastfeeding mothers with COVID-19 are crucial.

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