Cytomegalovirus infection in a neonatal intensive care unit. Subsequent morbidity and mortality of seropositive infants.
In a study of blood transfusion and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in 385 infants, 5 (8%) of 60 seropositive infants with birthweights less than or equal to 1250 g acquired CMV. Four infants had become seronegative by the time of viral excretion and demonstrated significant morbidity with one death. Morbidity included variant (atypical) lymphocytosis, thrombocytopenia, Staphylococcal epidermidis and Candida parapsilosis infections, and respiratory deterioration. Interestingly, the infant who exhibited only minimal morbidity was seropositive at the time of viral excretion. CMV seropositivity at birth may not protect low birthweight (LBW) infants from the morbidity and mortality associated with CMV infection.
Griffin
M P
MP
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
O'Shea
M
M
Brazy
J E
JE
Klein
D
D
Koepke
J
J
Malloy
C
C
Wilfert
C M
CM
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D000914:Antibodies, Viral