Abstract Details
9/09/2025 | 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM | Breakout 6 | University Hall
Management of infants with clinically inapparent congenital CMV identified through a universal newborn screening program in a Level I nursery
Abstract Summary
Intro Newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) allows for timely diagnosis and intervention. With increasing interest in newborn screening, many infants with cCMV without clinical disease are being identified. Universal cCMV newborn screening was implemented at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) hospital as standard of care in 2024. We present our experience from the first year of the screening program. Methods Infants born at UAB and admitted to the newborn nursery between January 25, 2024 -December 31, 2024 were screened for cCMV by saliva rapid culture. Infants that screened positive were confirmed by urine and/or saliva CMV PCR. Infants were evaluated in the Infectious Diseases clinic and underwent a full physical exam, complete blood count, and cranial ultrasound and referred to ophthalmology and audiology for evaluation. Results 13 of 2978 infants screened positive and 12 were confirmed to have congenital CMV infection (4 per 1000). The infant with a positive saliva screening test but negative urine PCR (false positive) was not breast fed. None of the infants had signs or symptoms of cCMV in the nursery. All were full term and appropriate for gestational age. Among the 12 confirmed infants, 11 passed their newborn hearing screen. One infant referred on hearing screen and confirmed to have unilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss. 10 infants had cranial ultrasound and one infant was found to have LSV. 8 infants had complete blood counts and all had normal platelet counts. Two infants underwent ophthalmologic evaluations with normal exams. Conclusions We report the successful implementation of a universal newborn screening program utilizing saliva testing for cCMV. Saliva testing was found to have a low false positive rate. Laboratory and ophthalmologic evaluations did not reveal any abnormalities questioning the utility of these procedures for infants with clinically inapparent cCMV.
Learning Objectives
- Select the appropriate diagnostic test to screen infants for congenital CMV in the newborn nursery
- Understand how to evaluate an infant with congenital CMV
- Understand how to treat and manage an infant with congenital CMV
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Presenters
Shannon Ross | Primary Presenter
saross@uabmc.edu;
Dr. Ross is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
ASHA DISCLOSURE
Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE
Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.
Swetha Pinninti | Co-Author
spinninti@peds.uab.edu;
Dr. Pinninti is an Associate Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research interests include vestibular disorders in children with congenital CMV infection.
ASHA DISCLOSURE
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE
Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.
DeeAnne Jackson | Co-Author
dsjackson@uabmc.edu;
Dr Jackson is Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Academic General Pediatrics. She is the Medical Director of the UAB Newborn Nursery.
ASHA DISCLOSURE
Financial -
Nonfinancial -
AAA DISCLOSURE
Financial - No relevant financial relationship exists.
Karen Fowler | Co-Author
karenfowler@uabmc.edu;
Dr. Fowler is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
ASHA DISCLOSURE
Financial - Receives Consulting fee for Consulting from Moderna.
Nonfinancial - No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE
Financial - Receives support from Moderna for financial.