An Assumed Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of Literature

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected persons of all ages, including the newborns. Few published case reports and case series have described the possibility of vertical transmission of COVID-19. In the present report, we describe a young primigravida at 33 weeks of gestation, who presented with a four-day history of low-grade fever, malaise, and breathing difficulty. She underwent testing of nasopharyngeal swab sample by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which was positive for COVID-19. Cesarean section was done, and a preterm low birthweight baby was delivered. The baby required resuscitation at birth and was mechanically ventilated for a shorter duration. A tracheal aspirate that was taken at 12 hours of life tested positive for COVID-19. The course and outcome of the newborn are described here along with the possibility of vertical transmission.