Postnatal cytomegalovirus: innocent bystander or hidden problem?

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition Vol. 94; no. 1; pp. F58 - F64
• Main Authors: Luck, S, Sharland, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.01.2009; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Acquisitions & mergers; Age; Babies; Baby foods; Breast Feeding - adverse effects; Breastfeeding & lactation; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification; Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis; Cytomegalovirus Infections - prevention & control; Cytomegalovirus Infections - transmission; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature - immunology; Infections; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange - immunology; Milk; Morbidity; Mortality; Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; Opportunistic Infections - prevention & control; Opportunistic Infections - virology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - virology; Studies; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 1359-2998; 1468-2052
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2007.131623

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common pathogen, associated with mild illness in most immunocompetent people. Historically, research on CMV infection in the relatively immunocompromised premature and small-for-gestational age neonatal population has been neglected. Recent studies have not only defined factors important in the transmission of CMV, but also led to the suggestion of serious morbidity related to postnatal acquisition. The burden of postnatal CMV disease and the risk–benefit of screening and prevention strategies are all still unclear.