An observational study from Indonesia revealed that neonates born to mothers who had COVID-19, had tested positive, or were suffering from hypoxia were more likely to have necrotizing enterocolitis.

The study enrolled 125 neonates who were hospitalized, after verifying that the mother was Covid-19 positive. Only one of the five neonates who developed NEC survived. Four kids with NEC were born by C-section, two kids were found to have covid-19 positive blood, and four suffered from hypoxia. 

According to the findings, the risk of NEC was significantly more in infants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (OR 15.3, 95 per cent CI 2.07-113.4), those who had asphyxia at birth (OR 13.1, 95 per cent CI 1.41-122.4), and those who were born with low weight (5.5 lb) or a younger gestational age (37 weeks). Lower gestational age (p = 0.025), caesarean section birth (p = 0.025), and suffocation (p = 0.025) were all related with a higher risk of death. Pre-eclampsia (16%), hypertension (4%), and obesity were among the maternal comorbidities (2 per cent).

The researchers concluded that NEC was associated with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR results, asphyxia, lower gestational age, and lower birth weight among neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers. These factors, in addition to caesarean section delivery, were linked to neonatal mortality under such circumstances. The study was published in the Annals of Medicine and Surgery. (Ann Med Surg 2022; DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103711.)