Cytomegalovirus as nosocomial infection

Nosocomial infections with cytomegalovirus are an area of great concern and controversy within the medical community. With the advent of organ transplantation there have been an increased number of susceptible individuals. In the past most cases were confined to newborn nurseries and the neonatal intensive care unit. It is of great interest that recent evidence suggests that health care providers are at no greater risk of acquiring CMV infection inside the hospital setting when compared to a representative control group within the same community. This paper will review some of the literature that deals with the nosocomial transmission of CMV. We will try to emphasize transmission, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of CMV infection.