Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: Update on Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Khalil A. , Heath P. T. , Jones C. E. , Soe A. , Ville Y. G. ,   the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Published: October 2024

Plain language summary

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of viral infection in newborn babies, and affects 1 in 200 of all live born infants in high‐income countries; and 1 in 71 in low‐ and middle‐income countries. It is a major cause of hearing loss and brain damage.

Women may get CMV infection for the first time during pregnancy (primary infection) or may experience ‘non‐primary’ infection, either by reactivation of previous CMV infection or by a new infection with a different strain of the virus. The most common source of infection to pregnant women is the saliva and urine of young children. Therefore, all pregnant women, especially those in regular contact with young children, should be informed about hygiene‐based measures to reduce the risks, e.g. handwashing.

The UK National Screening Committee recommends against universal antenatal or newborn screening for CMV. Testing for CMV is usually offered only to women who develop symptoms of influenza, glandular fever or hepatitis (liver inflammation) during pregnancy, or for those whom a routine ultrasound scan detects fetal anomalies that suggests possible CMV infection.

The risk of harm to the fetus is greatest following primary CMV infection of the woman in early pregnancy, and appears to be very low following infection after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Babies with CMV infection at birth may have jaundice, a rash, enlarged liver or spleen, a small brain, or be small for their gestational age. Around 1 in 8 babies born with CMV infection will have clinically detectable signs at birth. The rest will not have any features detectable by clinical examination alone. Therefore, all infants with CMV infection at birth should be followed up at a minimum of up to 2 years of age or later, depending upon the disease status, to check hearing and brain development.

Following primary CMV infection in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, if the woman starts taking the antiviral medicine valaciclovir (valacyclovir) it reduces the risk of the baby becoming infected.

Where CMV infection of the fetus in the womb has been confirmed (by amniocentesis, for example), regular ultrasound scans should be offered every 2–3 weeks until birth. Detailed assessment of the fetal brain is an essential part of these scans. Where maternal CMV infection occurs, but fetal infection is not confirmed, repeated ultrasound scans of the fetus should be offered every 2–3 weeks until birth.

In infected fetuses, as well as ultrasound scans, an MRI scan of the brain should be offered at 28–32 weeks of gestation (and sometimes repeated 3–4 weeks later) to assess for any signs of harm to the fetal brain.

All babies born to women with confirmed or suspected CMV infection should be tested for CMV with a urine or saliva sample within the first 21 days of life.

In newborns with symptomatic CMV infection at birth, treatment with antiviral medicine (valganciclovir or ganciclovir) can reduce hearing loss in 5 out of 6 babies, and improve long‐term brain development outcomes in some. There is no licensed vaccine for CMV.