Neonatal screening for congenital CMV infection stresses the importance of maternal nonprimary infection even in an area where prenatal serology testing is common.

AIM AND

METHODS

Dried blood spots from 2149 newborns were examined to diagnose congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV).

RESULTS

Prenatal CMV-IgG antibodies had been measured during prenatal care in 1287 (60.3%) of mothers and 980 (76.1%) of them were found seropositive. cCMV incidence was 0.47%. All newborns were asymptomatic; 9/10 were born post nonprimary maternal infection; two developed sensorineural hearing loss.

CONCLUSIONS

In a country where prenatal CMV testing is common and therefore a false sense of control might prevail, nonprimary maternal infection should not be overlooked. Indeed, women of childbearing age should be educated on CMV prevention measures irrespectively to their serostatus.