Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025
03:53
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
1.5K
An update on COVID-19 and pregnancy
Denise J Jamieson1, Sonja A Rasmussen2
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|September 17, 2021
Summary
Pregnancy is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, increasing ICU admission and mortality. While intrauterine transmission is rare, SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant individuals.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Pregnancy involves physiological, mechanical, and immunologic changes that may impact COVID-19 susceptibility and severity.
- Current data are insufficient to determine if pregnancy increases SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility due to confounding exposure risks.
- Pregnancy is identified as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy, including susceptibility, severity, transmission, and outcomes.
- To assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- To evaluate the safety and recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals.
Main Methods:
- Review of surveillance data, including from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Analysis of documented cases of intrauterine SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
- Examination of evidence linking COVID-19 infection in pregnancy to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.
- Assessment of accumulating safety data for COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant and lactating populations.
Main Results:
- Pregnant individuals with COVID-19 are at higher risk for ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, ECMO, and death compared to nonpregnant women.
- Intrauterine SARS-CoV-2 transmission is documented but appears rare, potentially due to low viral load and placental factors.
- COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is associated with preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, particularly in severe cases.
- The pandemic's impact on healthcare systems has also led to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including increased stillbirths and maternal deaths.
- All available US COVID-19 vaccines can be administered to pregnant or lactating individuals; no safety signals have been detected.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease.
- SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is linked to adverse outcomes, and the pandemic has exacerbated maternal and infant health issues.
- COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for pregnant and lactating individuals, though further data on birth outcomes are needed.
Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2fetal deathfetusmaternal deathnewbornperinatal infectionpneumoniapregnancypreterm birthvertical transmissionMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
3.1K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
3.1K
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
571
Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
571
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
3.4K
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
3.4K
01:19Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
62
The nursing management of Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP, centers around patient education, symptom monitoring, and lifestyle modifications.Patient Education on MVP Diagnosis and Heredity: Nurses should provide comprehensive education about MVP, a condition where the mitral valve does not close appropriately during heartbeats. This education often includes the condition's pathophysiology, symptoms, and potential complications, like arrhythmias or mitral regurgitation. Though not fully...
62
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
478
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
478
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
4.2K
Transmission-based precautions are for patients known to be infected or suspected to be infected or colonized with organisms that pose a significant risk to others. Some transmission-based precautions include contact, enteric, and droplet.
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
4.2K