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Rev Panam Salud Publica 2020 27;44:e59. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill United States of America University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States of America.

A rapid systematic review was carried out to evaluate the current evidence related to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk from pregnant women with COVID-19. Eight studies analyzing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the breast milk of 24 pregnant women with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy were found. All patients had fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness and chest computed tomography images indicative of COVID-19 pneumonia. Read More

PLoS Med 2020 May 22;17(5):e1003110. Epub 2020 May 22.

Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have lower rates of contraceptive use than noninfected peers, yet concerns regarding contraceptive efficacy and interaction with antiretroviral therapy (ART) complicate counseling. Hormonal contraceptives may increase genital tract HIV viral load (gVL) and sexual transmission risk to male partners. We compared gVL, plasma VL (pVL), and intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) continuation between the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and copper intrauterine device (C-IUD) in Cape Town, South Africa. Read More

Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2020 15;75:e1932. Epub 2020 May 15.

Terapia Intensiva em Neonatologia/Pediatria, Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.

This article presents expert recommendations for assisting newborn children of mothers with suspected or diagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The consensus was developed by five experts with an average of 20 years of experience in neonatal intensive care working at a reference university hospital in Brazil for the care of pregnant women and newborns with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Despite the lack of scientific evidence regarding the potential for viral transmission to their fetus in pregnant mothers diagnosed with or suspected of COVID-19, it is important to elaborate the lines of care by specialists from hospitals caring for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases to guide multidisciplinary teams and families diagnosed with the disease or involved in the care of pregnant women and newborns in this context. Read More

Codas 2020 15;32(3):e20200124. Epub 2020 May 15.

Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2020 May 8;21(5):405-407. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.

The recently emerged novel coronavirus pneumonia, named the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), shares several clinical characteristics with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and spread rapidly throughout China in December of 2019 (Huang et al., 2020). The pathogen 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is now named SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is highly infectious. Read More

J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2020 May 1;21(5):394-399. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.

At the end of 2019, a new form of pneumonia disease known as the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread throughout most provinces of China, and the total global number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 500 000 by Mar. 27, 2020 (WHO, 2020). On Jan. Read More

Acta Biomed 2020 May 11;91(2):251-255. Epub 2020 May 11.

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Background: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmittable virus associated with a significantly increased risk of complications among the infected population. Few data are available for the outcome of pregnancy complicated by serious respiratory disease due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Aim: We herein report a series of four neonates whose mothers had recovered from new coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Read More

Maedica (Buchar) 2020 Mar;15(1):6-10

"Carol Davila" University and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses which, even if they are affecting mainly mammals and birds, could be transmitted to humans, generating common cold. The new virus strain is named SARS-CoV-2 and has 85% sequence similarity to SARS-CoV. Until now, it has caused more than 100 000 confirmed cases of infection and almost 5000 deaths, having a mortality rate of 4%. Read More

J Travel Med 2020 May 18. Epub 2020 May 18.

Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA.

Pregnant travelers face numerous risks, notably increased susceptibility to or severity of multiple infections, including malaria. Because pregnant women residing in areas non-endemic for malaria are unlikely to have protective immunity, travel to endemic areas poses risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications, such as low birthweight and fetal loss. If travel to malaria endemic areas cannot be avoided, preventive measures are critical. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2020 05;59(3):464-465

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang Ming University, School of Medicine, Taiwan. Electronic address:

J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2020 May;42(5):644-653

Halifax, NS.

Objective: Lyme disease is an emerging infection in Canada caused by the bacterium belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex, which is transmitted via the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Populations of blacklegged ticks continue to expand and are now established in different regions in Canada. It usually takes more than 24 hours of tick attachment to transfer B. Read More

Lancet 2020 05 13;395(10237):e92. Epub 2020 May 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.

J Med Virol 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Background And Aim: The efficacy of prenatal antiviral therapy (AVT) for preventing the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is well demonstrated. However, data are limited regarding the safety of postpartum cessation of AVT, which may induce alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to investigate the necessity of prolonging maternal AVT after delivery. Read More

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020 May 15;69(19):582-586. Epub 2020 May 15.

Although mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is preventable through antiretroviral treatment (ART) during pregnancy and postpartum, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 160,000 new HIV infections occurred among children in 2018 (1). Child survival and HIV-free survival rates* are standard measures of progress toward eliminating MTCT (2). Nationally representative Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) survey data, pooled from eight sub-Saharan African countries were used to calculate survival probability among children aged ≤3 years by maternal HIV status during pregnancy and HIV-free survival probability among children aged ≤3 years born to women with HIV infection, stratified by maternal ART** status during pregnancy. Read More

Can Fam Physician 2020 May;66(5):e155-e161

Fourth-year medical student at the University of Toronto who was taken off clinical duties owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2020 May 13;18(1):45. Epub 2020 May 13.

Fertility Clinic Skive, Skive Regional Hospital, Skive, Denmark.

The prolonged lockdown of health services providing high-complexity fertility treatments -as currently recommended by many reproductive medicine entities- is detrimental for society as a whole, and infertility patients in particular. Globally, approximately 0.3% of all infants born every year are conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2020 06;39(6):469-477

Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has spread rapidly across the globe. In contrast to initial reports, recent studies suggest that children are just as likely as adults to become infected with the virus but have fewer symptoms and less severe disease. In this review, we summarize the epidemiologic and clinical features of children infected with SARS-CoV-2 reported in pediatric case series to date. Read More

Pediatr Dev Pathol 2020 May-Jun;23(3):177-180

Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.

This study describes the pathology and clinical information on 20 placentas whose mother tested positive for the novel Coronovirus (2019-nCoV) cases. Ten of the 20 cases showed some evidence of fetal vascular malperfusion or fetal vascular thrombosis. The significance of these findings is unclear and needs further study. Read More

Indian J Med Ethics 2020 Apr-Jun;V(2):100-102

Senior Resident, Geriatric Clinic and Services, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, 56 0029, INDIA.

The National Task Force for Covid-19 of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in a bulletin dated March 21, 2020 recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis in asymptomatic health care workers caring for suspected or confirmed patients and household contacts of confirmed patients. This is cause for concern with regard to bioethics and good clinical practice. The evidence for the efficacy of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is currently derived from open label trials and cell culture studies with no conclusive evidence available from randomised clinical trials. Read More

Chiropr Man Therap 2020 05 11;28(1):24. Epub 2020 May 11.

No Affiliation, Edmonton, Canada.

Background: Internet analytics are increasingly being integrated into public health regulation. One specific application is to monitor compliance of website and social media activity with respect to jurisdictional regulations. These data may then identify breaches of compliance and inform disciplinary actions. Read More

Pathogens 2020 May 7;9(5). Epub 2020 May 7.

Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been associated with congenital microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities. There is little published research on the effect of maternal ZIKV infection in a non-endemic European region. We aimed to describe the outcomes of pregnant travelers diagnosed as ZIKV-infected in Spain, and their exposed children. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2020 May 11;16(5):e1008521. Epub 2020 May 11.

Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection may lead to congenital microcephaly and pregnancy loss in pregnant women. In the context of pregnancy, folic acid (FA) supplementation may reduce the risk of abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Intriguingly, FA may have a beneficial effect on the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with ZIKV infection. Read More

Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2020 May;49(2):249-252

Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the cardio-pulmonary function of pregnant women, the anesthetic management and protection of medical staff in the cesarean section is significantly different from that in ordinary surgical operation. This paper reports a case of cesarean section for a woman with COVID-19, which was successfully performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine on February 8, 2020. Anesthetic management, protection of medical staff and psychological intervention for the pregnant woman during the operation were discussed. Read More

Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2020 May;49(2):240-244

Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women complicated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: The clinical data of 3 pregnant women with COVID-19 admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 19 to February 10, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: There was one case in the first-trimester pregnancy (case 1), one in the second-trimester pregnancy (case 2) and one in third-trimester pregnancy (case 3). Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2020 May 8:100133. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, NYU Langone Health.

Introduction: Since the first reports of the emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its associated disease (COVID-19), concerns remain about whether the virus is transmissible in pregnant women from the mother to the fetus during either the antepartum period or the process of labor and delivery. One recent review reported that in a small number of cases, two PCR swabs of the placenta were sent in additional to neonatal and cord blood testing, and both placental PCR swabs were negative. Other studies have demonstrated the finding of SARS-CoV2 IgM in neonates born to mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy, findings that may indicate vertical transmission of the virus in utero. Read More

Encephale 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

GHU Paris psychiatrie et neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, service hospitalo-universitaire, pôle hospitalo-universitaire Paris 15, Paris, France; Université de Paris, Paris, France; Institut Pasteur, experimental neuropathology unit, Paris, France.

Objectives: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic comprises a total of more than 2,350,000 cases and 160,000 deaths. The interest in anti-coronavirus drug development has been limited so far and effective methods to prevent or treat coronavirus infections in humans are still lacking. Urgent action is needed to fight this fatal coronavirus infection by reducing the number of infected people along with the infection contagiousness and severity. Read More

Lancet HIV 2020 May;7(5):e332-e339

Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Late initiation of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) in pregnancy is associated with not achieving viral suppression before giving birth and increased mother-to-child transmission of HIV. We aimed to investigate virological suppression before giving birth with dolutegravir compared with efavirenz, when initiated during the third trimester.

Methods: In this randomised, open-label trial, DolPHIN-2, we recruited pregnant women in South Africa and Uganda aged at least 18 years, with untreated but confirmed HIV infection and an estimated gestation of at least 28 weeks, initiating ART in third trimester. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2020 May 9;26:e924725. Epub 2020 May 9.

Department of Women's Health, Institute of Rural Health in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.

During any epidemic of infectious diseases, pregnant women constitute an extremely sensitive group due to altered physiology and immune functions, and thus altered susceptibility to infection. With regard to the management of pregnant COVID-19 patients, in addition to the treatment of the infection itself, which is not that different from generally accepted principles, it is interesting to consider which obstetric procedures should be used to minimize the adverse effects on mother and child. Questions arise concerning the continuation of pregnancy, how to terminate the pregnancy, the possibility of virus transmission through the placenta, isolation of the newborn after birth, and breastfeeding. Read More

Rev Esp Salud Publica 2020 Apr 17;94. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Granada. Granada. España.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new pathology, declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, which can have negative consequences for pregnant women and their newborns. The aim of this study was to explore the available knowledge on the consequences of developing COVI-19 in pregnant women and their neonates.

Methods: Scoping Review, in which the search for articles was conducted using DeCS ("pregnancy", "coronavirus", "health") and MeSH ("pregnan*", "pregnant women", "coronavirus"), linking the terms with the Boolean AND operator. Read More

Science 2020 05;368(6491):608-612

Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.

Viral infections during pregnancy can have devastating consequences on pregnancy outcomes, fetal development, and maternal health. In this review, we examine fetal and maternal immune defense mechanisms that mediate resistance against viral infections and discuss the range of syndromes that ensue when such mechanisms fail, from fetal developmental defects to establishment of chronic infection. Further, we highlight the role of maternal immune activation, or uncontrolled inflammation triggered by viral infections during pregnancy, and its potential downstream pathological effects, including tissue damage and fetal demise. Read More

Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi 2020 Apr;55(4):217-220

Rev Med Suisse 2020 May;16(692):944-946

Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, Département femme-mère-enfant, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented worldwide health crisis. The increased vulnerability of pregnant women as well as past experience from previous coronavirus epidemics are cause for concern of maternal and fetal complications. The rapid outbreak of the disease combined with the uncertainty, as a direct result of the lack of strong scientific data, has forced obstetricians to adapt their current practices pragmatically. Read More

Ginekol Pol 2020 ;91(4):231-234

Second Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.

We present recommendations on performance and safety measures of ultrasound examinations in obstetrics and gynecology during the SARS COV-2 pandemic. The statement was prepared based on the current knowledge on the coronavirus by the Ultrasound Section of the Polish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It has to be noted that the presented guidance is based on limited evidence and is primarily based on experiences published by authors from areas most affected by the virus thus far, such as China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Italy. Read More

Front Immunol 2020 9;11:592. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Themis Bioscience GmbH, Vienna, Austria.

Arboviruses represent major challenges to public health, particularly in tropical, and subtropical regions, and a substantial risk to other parts of the world as respective vectors extend their habitats. In recent years, two viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, Chikungunya and Zika virus, have gathered increased interest. After decades of regionally constrained outbreaks, both viruses have recently caused explosive outbreaks on an unprecedented scale, causing immense suffering and massive economic burdens in affected regions. Read More

Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2020 06;33(3):271-0

Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2142:197-213

The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne viral infection that is shed in biological fluids promoting vertical and sexual transmission. Recent outbreaks of ZIKV have been associated with an increase in adult and fetal infection-related diseases. ZIKV infection in rhesus macaques is considered a robust animal model for studying Zika viral infection dynamics and fetal disease. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2142:113-122

Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Maternal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can have profound teratogenic effects including microcephaly and intracranial calcification. In adults, infection may cause acute inflammatory polyneuropathy. These complications appear after resolution of viremia. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2020 ;2142:9-22

Infectious Disease Research Centre, CHU de Québec and Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an important pathogen transmitted to humans by the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. ZIKV is able to infect several tissues and organs and, importantly, has been associated with microcephaly and central nervous system abnormalities in fetuses and newborn babies of mothers exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy, as well as neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. There is currently no vaccine or drug licensed to prevent or treat ZIKV infections. Read More

BMJ 2020 May 4;369:m1672. Epub 2020 May 4.

Guideline: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection in pregnancyPublished by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), with input from the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPH), the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association.This summary is based on version 8 of the guideline, published on 17 April 2020 (https://www.rcog. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020 Apr 28. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX. Electronic address:

Background: Despite 2.5 million infections and 169,000 deaths worldwide (current as of April 20, 2020), no maternal deaths and only a few pregnant women afflicted with severe respiratory morbidity had been reported to be related to COVID-19 disease. Given the disproportionate burden of severe and mortal respiratory disease previously documented among pregnant women following other related coronavirus outbreaks (SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS-CoV) and influenza pandemics over the last century, the absence of reported maternal morbidity and mortality with COVID-19 disease is unexpected. Read More

Neoreviews 2020 05;21(5):e293-e297

Department of Neonatology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.

Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol 2020 05;48(5):407-408

Pôle de gynécologie, obstétrique et fertilité, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France.

Lancet 2020 05 27;395(10235):1483-1484. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Femme-Mère-Enfant, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address:

PLoS One 2020 30;15(4):e0231938. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Post-Graduate Program of Infectious Diseases, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.

Fetal and placental growth disorders are common in maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and can be attributed to both the infection and comorbidities not associated with HIV. We describe placental growth disorders and adverse reproductive outcomes in HIV-infected pregnant women whose delivery occurred between 2001-2014 in Vitoria, Brazil. Cases with gestational age (GA) ≥ than 22 weeks validated by ultrasonography, with placental and fetal weight dimensions at birth, were studied. Read More

Sci Transl Med 2020 Apr;12(541)

Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea.

Pregnancy imposes a substantial metabolic burden on women through weight gain and insulin resistance. Lactation reduces the risk of maternal postpartum diabetes, but the mechanisms underlying this benefit are unknown. Here, we identified long-term beneficial effects of lactation on β cell function, which last for years after the cessation of lactation. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 Apr 27. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, Gijón, Spain.

The female immigrant population is especially vulnerable to imported diseases. We describe the results of a prospective screening program for imported diseases performed in immigrant female patients. The protocol included tests for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), , , and spp. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2020 Apr 7. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

New York University, New York City, United States.

Women at childbearing age and pregnant ladies living in the areas of high or intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain at risk of getting the infection and passing the infections to their offspring via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV. HBV infection may affect the mothers by active hepatitis, very occasionally liver cirrhosis and rarely fulminant hepatitis and liver failure. The virus may be transmitted to the babies despite immunoprophylaxis in the setting of very high maternal viral load. Read More

J Prim Care Community Health 2020 Jan-Dec;11:2150132720922957

Waco Family Medicine Residency Program, Waco, TX, USA.

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which is the cause of coronavirus disease (COVID-19 formally 2019-nCoV), has received widespread attention from the medical community. Despite the rapid publication of research on the virus and the disease it causes, there is a lack of concise and relevant material to help busy medical providers navigate recognition and management of the disease in the ambulatory setting. This review article aims to bridge this gap by briefly reviewing the key points of the evaluation and treatment of patients with COVID-19 in the ambulatory clinic environment. Read More

Diagnostics (Basel) 2020 Apr 22;10(4). Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Femicare VZW Clinical Research for Women, 3300 Tienen, Belgium.

Providing guidelines to health care workers during a period of rapidly evolving viral pandemic infections is not an easy task, but it is extremely necessary in order to coordinate appropriate action so that all patients will get the best possible care given the circumstances they are in. With these International Society of Infectious Disease in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISIDOG) guidelines we aim to provide detailed information on how to diagnose and manage pregnant women living in a pandemic of COVID-19. Pregnant women need to be considered as a high-risk population for COVID-19 infection, and if suspected or proven to be infected with the virus, they require special care in order to improve their survival rate and the well-being of their babies. Read More

Arch Pathol Lab Med 2020 Apr 27. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA (Dr. Schwartz); Amareen Dhaliwal, BS, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA (Ms. Dhaliwal).

SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19, is similar to two other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, in causing life-threatening maternal respiratory infections and systemic complications. Because of global concern for potential intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from pregnant women to their infants, this report analyzes the effects on pregnancy of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory RNA viruses, and examines the frequency of maternal-fetal transmission with SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza (HPIV) and metapneumovirus (hMPV). There have been no confirmed cases of intrauterine transmission reported with COVID-19 or any other coronavirus infections. Read More