The rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in asymptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospital for delivery: Experience of a pandemic center in Turkey. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tanacan, Atakan; Erol, Seyit Ahmet; Turgay, Batuhan; Anuk, Ali Taner; Secen, Elcin Islek; Yegin, Gulin Feykan; Ozyer, Sebnem; Kirca, Fisun; Dinc, Bedia; Unlu, Serpil; Yapar Eyi, Elif Gul; Keskin, Huseyin Levent; Sahin, Dilek; Surel, Aziz Ahmet; Tekin, Ozlem Moraloglu
• Is Part Of: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology. Volume 253(2020)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Pregnancy -- Asymptomatic patients -- Pandemic; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Obstétrique -- Périodiques; Gynécologie -- Périodiques; Reproduction -- Périodiques; Verloskunde; Gynaecologie; Voortplanting (biologie); Gynecology; Obstetrics; Reproduction; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.07.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-2115

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity in asymptomatic pregnant women admitted to hospital for delivery in a Turkish pandemic center. Study Design: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Ankara City Hospital between April, 15, 2020 and June, 5, 2020. A total of 206 asymptomatic pregnant women (103 low-risk pregnant women without any defined risk factor and 103 high-risk pregnant women) were screened for SARS-CoV-2 positivity upon admission to hospital for delivery. Detection of SARS-CoV2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples was performed by Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method targeting RdRp (RNA dependent RNA polymerase) gene. Two groups were compared in terms of demographic features, clinical characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Results: Three of the 206 pregnant women participating in the study had positive RT-PCR tests (1.4 %) and all positive cases were in the high-risk pregnancy group. Although, one case in the high-risk pregnancy group had developed symptoms highly suspicious for COVID-19, two repeated RT-PCR tests were negative. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity rate was significantly higher in the high-risk pregnancy group (2.9 % vs 0%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Healthcare professionals should be cautious in the labor and delivery of high-risk pregnant women during the pandemic period and universal testing for COVID-19 may be considered in selected populations.