Growth and Cognitive Outcome in Very Preterm Infants with Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Infectious Diseases
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Conflicting data exist regarding the impact of postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on growth and cognitive outcomes in very preterm infants.
• A systematic evaluation is needed to clarify this association in a contemporary cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of postnatal CMV infection on growth parameters (head circumference, weight, length) from birth to 3 months corrected age.
• To evaluate the impact of postnatal CMV infection on cognitive development at 12, 24 months, and 5 years of corrected age.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of infants born before 32 weeks gestational age (2011-2018) was screened for postnatal CMV infection.
• Growth parameters and cognitive outcomes (using Bayley Scales, Kaufman Assessment Battery, and Wechsler scales) were compared between infants with and without CMV infection.

Main Results:

• Out of 431 infants, 4.6% acquired postnatal CMV infection.
• No significant differences in growth (head circumference, weight, length) were observed between the CMV-infected and non-infected groups up to 3 months corrected age.
• Cognitive development at 12, 24 months, and 5 years also showed no significant differences between the groups, including a subgroup of infants born before 28 weeks gestational age.

Conclusions:

• Postnatal CMV infection was not associated with adverse effects on growth or cognitive development in very preterm infants.
• These findings have implications for the discussion surrounding the use of raw mother's milk in feeding preterm infants.