IHBE publishes paper on childbirth and COVID-19

by Lily Summers
| August 21, 2020 |

IHBE teams up with collaborators at OHSU to publish, “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Environmental Contamination and Childbirth” in the journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

This preliminary research was conducted between March and June of 2020 on asymptomatic patients giving birth who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Environmental swab tests of the labor room surfaces as well as healthcare workers’ protective gear, before and after labor. It was evident that the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was greater after childbirth, likely due to an increase in heavy breathing, yelling, and excretions during labor. Understanding how the contaminated droplets and aerosols are behaving in our built environment will enable us to have the power to keep our healthcare workers and patients at a lower risk of transmission.

 

To read the full published paper, click here. To learn more about our research and gain first access to preliminary findings, join our consortium!