Cytomegalovirus
(CMV)
Nursing Care for Infants who are CMV Positive
Authorised by:
Charge Nurse Newborn
July 2002
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an ubiquitous
organism that is relatively non-infectious. Postnatal transmission of CMV
by breastfeeding is well recognised after primary or recurrent maternal
CMV infection.
The majority of infected infants are
asymptomatic, possible due to the transfer of maternal antibody.
Preterm infants especially those with
extremely low birthweight, have a higher attack rate, more severe disease
and higher mortality from postnatally acquired CMV infection
CMV transmission in breast milk may result
in pneumonitis, hepatitis, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and uncommonly,
gastroenteritis in the newborn but in general, does not result in
long-term sequelae, with the possible exception of babies weighing less
then 2000gms.
Breastfeeding when mother has CMV infection
Term babies may breastfeed.
Premature babies <32 weeks and low
birth weight babies (<2000gms ), freeze the expressed breast milk
for 24 hours. This reduces the CMV titre.
N.B.
Must put the date and time on the pottle when it goes into the freezer.
Nursing care
Nurses that are pregnant not to care for
CMV positive babies
