Importance of congenital cytomegalovirus in the neonatal hearing screening program.

INTRODUCTION

In newborns, hearing loss secondary to congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMVc) infection, despite its low prevalence, can cause a serious problem in the personal development and social integration of patients. Therefore, it is important to include the determination of CMV DNA as a neonatal screening tool.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We have carried out a 5-year retrospective study, by describing the CMVc in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country in newborns who did not pass the hearing screening in the early hearing loss detection program. The times of detection, confirmation (incidence) and intervention (treatment) are described.

RESULTS

Of 18,782 subjects studied, 58 (three per thousand live births) presented hearing loss. Of these, CMVc is guaranteed in four patients (one woman and three men). The mean time to hearing screening was 6.5 days (SD: ±3.69) and to detect CMV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in urine and saliva was 4.2 days (SD: ± 3.94). Time to confirm hearing loss by BAEP and audiological intervention 2.2 (SD: ±0.957) and 5 months (SD: ±3.741), respectively. Four hearing aid adaptations and one cochlear implant were performed.

DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSION

Neonatal hearing screening has established itself as a good public health program. The determination of viral DNA allows an early, specific and interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment, in which otorhinolaryngology plays a fundamental role. Our study highlights the importance of including CMV PCR as a universal screening tool.