Investigation of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the maternal-fetal compartment: Study of pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 at Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, both the maternal and fetal sides of placenta, as well as neonatal nasopharyngeal among infants born to mothers with COVID-19.

Methods: The inclusion criteria was pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 who delivered by caesarean section at Persahabatan General Hospital, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, from May 2020 to August 2020. SARS-CoV-2 presence was assessed in vaginal mucus, anal, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, both maternal and fetal sides of placenta, as well as neonatal nasopharynx.

Results: During the study period, 24 pregnant women met the criteria. A total of 132 swab samples were obtained from vaginal mucus, anal swab, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, both maternal and fetal sides of placenta, as well as neonatal nasopharynx. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test yielded negative results for SARS-CoV-2 in all samples except one sample from anal.

Conclusions: There was no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in vaginal mucus, anal, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, placenta, and neonatal nasopharyngeal samples. The exception of one positive anal sample, necessitating further investigation.