BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital disabilities. We designed a prospective study to investigate the rate, outcome, and risk factors of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection in neonates born to immune women, and the potential need and effectiveness of hygiene recommendations in this population. METHODS: The study was composed of 2 sequential parts: an epidemiology (part 1) and a prevention (part 2) study. Performance of part 2 depended upon a cCMV rate >0.4%. Women enrolled in part 1 did not receive hygiene recommendations. Newborns were screened by HCMV DNA testing in saliva and cCMV was confirmed by urine testing. RESULTS: Saliva swabs were positive for HCMV DNA in 45/9661 newborns and cCMV was confirmed in 18 cases. The rate of cCMV was .19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: .11-.29%), and 3 out of 18 infants with cCMV had symptoms of CMV at birth. Age, nationality, occupation, and contact with children were similar between mothers of infected and noninfected newborns. Twin pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]: 7.2; 95% CI: 1.7-32.2; P = .037) and maternal medical conditions (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.1; P = .003) appeared associated with cCMV. Given the rate of cCMV was lower than expected, the prevention part of the study was cancelled. CONCLUSIONS: Newborns from women with preconception immunity have a low rate of cCMV, which appears to be mostly due to reactivation of the latent virus. Therefore, serological screening in childbearing age would be pivotal to identify HCMV-seropositive women, whose newborns have a low risk of cCMV. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03973359).

Lilleri, D., Tassis, B., Pugni, L., Ronchi, A., Pietrasanta, C., Spinillo, A., et al. (2023). Prevalence, Outcome, and Prevention of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates Born to Women With Preconception Immunity (CHILd Study). CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 76(3 (1 February 2023)), 513 [10.1093/cid/ciac482].

Prevalence, Outcome, and Prevention of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates Born to Women With Preconception Immunity (CHILd Study)

Vergani, Patrizia;Ornaghi, Sara;Locatelli, Anna;Consonni, Sara;
2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital disabilities. We designed a prospective study to investigate the rate, outcome, and risk factors of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection in neonates born to immune women, and the potential need and effectiveness of hygiene recommendations in this population. METHODS: The study was composed of 2 sequential parts: an epidemiology (part 1) and a prevention (part 2) study. Performance of part 2 depended upon a cCMV rate >0.4%. Women enrolled in part 1 did not receive hygiene recommendations. Newborns were screened by HCMV DNA testing in saliva and cCMV was confirmed by urine testing. RESULTS: Saliva swabs were positive for HCMV DNA in 45/9661 newborns and cCMV was confirmed in 18 cases. The rate of cCMV was .19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: .11-.29%), and 3 out of 18 infants with cCMV had symptoms of CMV at birth. Age, nationality, occupation, and contact with children were similar between mothers of infected and noninfected newborns. Twin pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]: 7.2; 95% CI: 1.7-32.2; P = .037) and maternal medical conditions (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.1; P = .003) appeared associated with cCMV. Given the rate of cCMV was lower than expected, the prevention part of the study was cancelled. CONCLUSIONS: Newborns from women with preconception immunity have a low rate of cCMV, which appears to be mostly due to reactivation of the latent virus. Therefore, serological screening in childbearing age would be pivotal to identify HCMV-seropositive women, whose newborns have a low risk of cCMV. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03973359).
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
congenital infection; human cytomegalovirus; nonprimary infection; preconception immunity;
English
19-giu-2022
2023
76
3 (1 February 2023)
513
open
Lilleri, D., Tassis, B., Pugni, L., Ronchi, A., Pietrasanta, C., Spinillo, A., et al. (2023). Prevalence, Outcome, and Prevention of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates Born to Women With Preconception Immunity (CHILd Study). CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 76(3 (1 February 2023)), 513 [10.1093/cid/ciac482].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
10281-385370_VoR.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 607.57 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
607.57 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/385370
Citazioni
  • Scopus 10
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 8
Social impact