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Published on: July 6, 2013
Neonatal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in preterm and small for gestational age infants
F Lorenzoni1, S Lunardi, A Liumbruno
1Neonatal Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa , Pisa , Italy and.
Insights
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of hearing loss in newborns. Early screening for CMV in preterm or small for gestational age infants is crucial for timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neonatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a significant concern in newborns, impacting multiple organs, notably the reticuloendothelial and central nervous systems.
- It is the primary non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss, which may manifest at birth or develop later.
- Congenital CMV infection is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, preterm birth, and small for gestational age (SGA) conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between congenital CMV infection and adverse neonatal outcomes such as preterm birth and SGA.
- To advocate for early identification of congenital CMV infection in at-risk newborns due to the lack of a standardized large-scale screening method.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzed the incidence of congenital CMV infection in newborns.
- Specific focus was placed on identifying correlations with preterm birth and SGA status.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant association was observed between congenital CMV infection and preterm births (3.03%).
- Congenital CMV infection was also found to be associated with SGA condition (3.7%).
Conclusions:
- Routine CMV urine detection is recommended for all infants born before 37 weeks of gestational age.
- Screening for CMV should also be implemented in term SGA newborns to facilitate early diagnosis and management.
Abstract:
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection affects many organs: reticuloendothelial and central nervous system are particularly involved. Congenital CMV infection is the leading cause of non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing impairment can be present at birth or it can occur months or even years after birth. It is as well an important risk factor for antenatal stillbirth, preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) condition. For these reasons we should early identify congenital CMV infection investigating at least at risk newborns such as preterm or SGA babies given that a simple and standardized method for a large scale screening program is lacking. In our study, we found an association between congenital CMV infection and preterm births (3.03%) and with SGA condition (3.7%). Consequently, routine CMV urine detection should be performed at least in all babies born before 37 weeks of gestational age and in term SGA newborns.
