Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Scottish neonates 2020-2022: a national, population-based cohort study
Authors: Goulding Anna , McQuaid Fiona , Lindsay Laura , Agrawal Utkarsh , Auyeung Bonnie , Calvert Clara , Carruthers Jade , Denny Cheryl , Donaghy Jack , Hillman Sam , Hopcroft Lisa , Hopkins Leanne , McCowan Colin , McLaughlin Terry , Moore Emily , Richie Lewis , Simpson Colin R , Taylor Bob , Fenton Lynda , Pollock Louisa , Gale Christopher , Kurinczuk Jennifer J , Robertson Chris , Sheikh Aziz , Stock Sarah , Wood Rachael 
Published: July 2022

Objective

To examine infants in Scotland aged 0-27 days with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; the risk of neonatal infection by factors including maternal infection status and gestation at birth; and the need for hospital admission among infected neonates.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Setting and population

All live births in Scotland, 1 March 2020 to 31 January 2022.

Results

There were 141 neonates with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection over the study period, giving an overall infection rate of 153 per 100,000 live births (141/92,009). Among infants born to women with confirmed infection around the time of birth, the infection rate was 1,811 per 100,000 live births (15/828). Nearly two-thirds (92/141, 65.2%) of babies with confirmed neonatal infection had an associated admission to neonatal or (more commonly) paediatric care. Of those admitted to hospital, 6/92 (6.5%) infants were admitted to neonatal or paediatric intensive care, however none of these six had COVID-19 recorded as the main diagnosis underlying their admission. There were no neonatal deaths among babies with confirmed infection.

Implications and relevance

Confirmed neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection is uncommon. Secular trends in the neonatal infection rate broadly follow those seen in the general population, albeit at a lower level. Maternal infection at birth increases the risk of neonatal infection, but most babies with neonatal infection are born to women without confirmed infection. A high proportion of neonates with confirmed infection are admitted to hospital, with resulting implications for the baby, family, and services, although their outcomes are generally good.

Key messages

What is already known on this topic

The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates is low, but some studies have suggested that age under 1 month is a risk factor for severe infection requiring admission to intensive care.

Almost all the studies of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 have focused on the transmission risk from SARS-CoV-2 positive women to their offspring and data are lacking on the level of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection in the whole population.

What this study adds

This study includes all babies with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in the neonatal period in Scotland during the first 22 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Confirmed neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection is uncommon, but a high proportion of neonates with confirmed infection are admitted to hospital.

Confirmed maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection around the time of birth substantially increases the risk of neonatal infection, although the absolute risk of neonatal infection remains low (<2%) and most babies with neonatal infection are born to women without confirmed infection.

Outcomes for neonates with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are good; only 6.5% (6/92) of admitted neonates required intensive care, and COVID-19 was not the primary diagnosis recorded for these babies. There were no neonatal deaths among babies with confirmed infection.