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9/26/2014  |   4:30 PM - 6:00 PM   |  

The need for screening newborns for congenital CMV referred in the Neonatal Hearing Screening Program

Introduction: Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the most frequent cause of non-hereditary congenital hearing loss. Hearing loss may be the earliest indication of a cCMV infection in otherwise healthy infants. The earlier infants with cCMV are diagnosed, the better their chances for appropriate medical treatment and audiological care. Infants referred in the neonatal hearing screening program (NHS) for audiological diagnostics have a higher possibility of having hearing loss. Therefore, it could be effective to investigate whether these referred infants have a cCMV infection before waiting for the final diagnosis of hearing loss. Aims: Determine the prevalence of cCMV and describe the hearing loss in the group of referred newborns in the NHS program. Determine whether referred newborns should be screened for cCMV. Methods: Parents of infants who failed the NHS in the Netherlands are invited to participate in the CONCERT study. Dried blood spots are tested for CMV. The outcome of audiological investigations are recorded. Results: Parents of 478 infants who failed NHS agreed to CMV testing in dried blood spots. Of these, 24 (5,1%) were positive for CMV. All infants except one with cCMV had confirmed hearing loss: 10 with bilateral and 11 with unilateral hearing loss, 2 waiting for further testing and one infant with normal hearing (at risk for late-onset hearing loss). Conclusions: Newborns referred for possible hearing loss by the NHS should be tested for CMV. Medical and audiological care and follow-up can then be expedited for the individual infant. Future studies may decide if testing all infants with suspected hearing impairment for congenital CMV is necessary.

Fleurtje Schornagel (Point of Contact,Primary Presenter), f.a.j.schornagel@lumc.nl;
Fleurtje Schornagel is PhD-student at the department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). She is currently the physician-researcher on the CONCERT study (Congenital Cytomegalovirus: Efficacy of Antiviral Treatment in a non-Randomized Trial with Historical Control Group).

ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - No relevant financial relationship exist.

Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.

Marjolein Korndewal (Co-Presenter), m.j.korndewal@lumc.nl;
Marjolein Korndewal is PhD-student at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) at the Centre for Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Surveillance and the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) at the department for Medical Microbiology. She is currently involved in her PhD research project on congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

ASHA DISCLOSURE:

Financial - Receives Salary for Employment from LUMC.   Receives Salary for Employment from RIVM.  

Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.

Wim Soede (Author), w.soede@lumc.nl;
Wim Soede is Senior Clinical Physicist – Audiologist at the Audiological Center of the Ear Nose Throat department, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). He is consultant in acoustics and vibration at ARDEA. Further, he advices in audiological matters concerned in the CONCERT study.

Lisette Rusman (Author), l.g.rusman@lumc.nl;
Lisette Rusman is a Research Technician at the department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). Her current research interest is congenital cytomegalovirus for which the Dried Blood Spots are used to detect the virus.

Jutte de Vries (Author), j.j.c.de_vries@lumc.nl;
Jutte de Vries is Medical Microbiologist in Clinical Virology at the department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). She did her thesis on congenital cytomegalovirus infections (2012).

Aloys Kroes (Author), a.c.m.kroes@lumc.nl;
Aloys (“Louis”) Kroes is head of the Department of Medical Microbiology at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Professor in Clinical Virology. His research interests include Clinical virology, Infections in immunocompromised hosts, Human herpes viruses and Parvovirus B19.

Anne Marie Oudesluys - Murphy (Author), h.m.oudesluys-murphy@lumc.nl;
Anne Marie Oudesluys-Murphy is a professor of Social Paediatrics at the Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). Her fields of interest include Childhood hearing impairment, Breastfeeding, Developmental delay and Child Abuse.

Ann Vossen (Author), a.c.t.m.vossen@lumc.nl;
Ann Vossen is Medical Microbiologist, Associate professor in Clinical Virology and Principal Investigator on Congenital cytomegalovirus infection at the department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC). Her areas of interest are Clinical Virology, Herpes virus infections in immunocompromised patients, antiviral resistance, Congenital Cytomegalovirus infection and parvovirus B19 infection.

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