NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN INFANTS BORN TO MOTHER WITH COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide impact on both pregnant women and their babies. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal emergency in neonates with high morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of NEC in infants born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19. This study is a respective observational study conducted from May 2020 to March 2021. All infants born to mothers who were confirmed COVID-19 at Soetomo General Academic Hospital were included. Of the 125 infants included, there were 5 infants with NEC. Significant factors associated with the occurrence of NEC in this study were positive COVID-19 PCR results in infants, asphyxia, prematurity, and low birth weight infants. There were strong association between NEC and mortality. More research is needed on the long-term development of babies born to mothers with COVID-19, particularly in premature infants.