Congenital Cytomegalovirus: The Case for Newborn Screening

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common human herpesviruses, infecting nearly half of the adult population in the US. Vertical transmission can occur during pregnancy, and congenital CMV infections affect more children each year than all of the common conditions tested for during newborn screening combined. Congenital CMV infection is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 200 births in the US and is the leading cause of non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in infants, and yet public awareness remains low. Though most infants born with congenital CMV infection will appear healthy at birth, about 10% will present with a range of symptoms and complications at birth, and many more will experience delayed onset of sequelae. Early detection of congenital CMV infection is critical for timely clinical intervention, including treatment with antiviral medications, which may lessen the severity of the hearing and developmental impairments associated with this infection. This seminar will shed light on the prevalence, epidemiology, and clinical presentation associated with congenital CMV infections, test methods for diagnosis, and universal versus targeted screening approaches.

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the prevalence, disease manifestations, treatment and management of congenital CMV infections.

2. Identify the current clinical guidelines and laboratory methods used to diagnose congenital CMV infections.

3. Discuss universal versus targeted screening approaches and legislation updates.