Management of pregnant women affected with COVID-19 and infection control in a primary care hospital

• Published in: Journal of Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 13 - 19
• Main Authors: Tani, Mizuho, Tsuji, Yoshiyuki, Kinugasa, Masato, Hoshino, Tatsuji, Mori, Tatsuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine 2024; 一般社団法人 日本周産期・新生児医学会
• Subjects: COVID-19; Delivery; Infection control; Pregnancy; Primary care
• ISSN: 1348-964X; 2435-4996
• DOI: 10.34456/jjspnm.60.1_13

We report on our management of pregnant women affected with COVID-19 and the outcome in a primary care hospital that has neither a depressurized delivery room for infected parturients nor a neonatal intensive care unit. The subjects are 38 pregnant women who were treated for COVID-19 in our hospital and whose clinical outcomes were confirmed. All the cases were mild or asymptomatic, and both the mothers and infants, including three cases of preterm birth, had favorable outcomes, excepting one case of early miscarriage. For those who gave birth during infection period, we set up a temporary isolated delivery room and the midwives and obstetricians wore personal protective equipment there. The newborns were isolated from their mothers and other newborns immediately after birth. Although all of the six parturients during infection period had vaginal delivery, none of the neonates or hospital staffs were infected. At present, most of the infection sources of the staffs are not known-infected people who are isolated, but unknown-infected people either inside or outside the hospital. It suggests that elective cesarean delivery itself may not reduce the risk of nosocomial infection practically. The mode of delivery for infected women should be based on their preferences alongside obstetric indications. Pregnant women with mild COVID-19 symptoms can be managed with appropriate infection control measures in a primary care hospital.