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Incidence and Clinical Manifestations of Breast Milk-Acquired Cytomegalovirus Infection in Low Birth Weight Infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 25, pages 299–303 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the incidence and clinical manifestations of human breast milk (HMB)-associated acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in small premature infants.

STUDY DESIGN:

A prospective study of premature infants born at or prior to 32 weeks gestation, and or infants weighing 1500 g or less at birth. The babies were divided into two groups: Group 1 included babies of CMV seropositive mothers who received HBM throughout the study period. Group 2 included babies of seronegative mothers or babies that did not receive HBM at all. Urine sample were obtained once weekly from birth until the age of 8 weeks or until discharge and were tested for the presence of CMV-DNA by PCR.

RESULTS:

Four of 70 infants from group 1 (5.7%, 95% CI, 0 to 11%) acquired CMV infection between the ages of 3 and 7 weeks as compared to none of 26 babies in group 2. Only one infected baby had severe CMV disease with complete recovery.

CONCLUSION:

The relative incidence of HBM-associated CMV infection and the severity of HBM-associated CMV disease in premature infants are low.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Infectious Disease Consultation Service, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Rappaport School of Medicine, Haifa, Israel

    Dan Miron MD

  2. Department of Pediatrics A, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Rappaport School of Medicine, Haifa, Israel

    Sharon Brosilow MD

  3. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Rappaport School of Medicine, Haifa, Israel

    Klari Felszer MD & Dan Reich MD

  4. Bioinformatic Department, Jerusalem Technology Center (JCT)-Machon Lev., Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Faculty of Health Sciences, Beer Sheba, Israel

    David Halle PhD

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Faculty of Health Sciences, Beer Sheba, Israel

    Daniel Wachtel MD, Arthur I Eidelman MD & Yechiel Schlesinger MD

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  1. Dan Miron MD
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  2. Sharon Brosilow MD
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Miron, D., Brosilow, S., Felszer, K. et al. Incidence and Clinical Manifestations of Breast Milk-Acquired Cytomegalovirus Infection in Low Birth Weight Infants. J Perinatol 25, 299–303 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211255

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