872 Neonate Skin Laceration During Delivery as Iatrogenic Risk Factor of Mother-To-Child HCV Infection

HCV mother-to-child transmission occurs mainly in the peripartum period. Cesarean section delivery is not recommended as prevention of HCV neonate infection. Available data from professional centers are conflicting. There is no information about association between neonate laceration during delivery and HCV infection. The Aim of the study was to establish the rate of neonate injury during delivery and the role of this complication in the risk of mother-to-child HCV transmission. Methods We collected data of mode of delivery in the group of 392 children born to anti-HCV+ mothers: 34 HCV infected children and 358 without HCV infection. Results 235/392(60%) children were delivered vaginally, 157/392(40%) by cesarean section. Skin laceration was observed in 9(2.3%) children: 4/235(1.7%) delivered vaginally, 5/157(3.2%) by cesarean section. In the group of HCV infected children 25/34(74%) were delivered vaginally, 9/34(26%) by cesarean section. The rate of HCV infection among children delivered vaginally was 25/235 (10.6%), by cesarean section 9/157(5.7%). 5/9(55%) children with skin laceration were HCV infected. In the group of children without skin laceration HCV infection was diagnosed in 29/383(7.5%). There were 43 children delivered by elective cesarean section in 38Hbd and none of them was injured, none of them was HCV infected. Conclusions Iatrogenic exposure to HCV during delivery may increase the risk of HCV mother-to-child infection. There is a higher risk of skin laceration in emergency cesarean section than in vaginal delivery. No vertical HCV transmission was noted among children born by elective cesarean section without skin laceration.