[Perinatal cytomegalovirus infection in preterm infants].
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of perinatal cytomegalovirus infection in neonates admitted to our hospital in the last three years, as well as the mode of transmission, serologic and microbiologic data, and the clinical outcome of these infants.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of neonates with a diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection.


RESULTS
Twenty-four neonates received this diagnosis. Of these, 21 (85 %) were premature infants with a birthweight of less than 1500 gr, representing 6 % of all neonates with this birthweight hospitalized during the study period. The percentage of transfusion and breastfeeding was high (87 % and 91 %, respectively) and consequently the route of transmission could not be identified. Nine neonates (34 %) presented associated hepatic dysfunction and three (12 %) developed severe disease requiring antiviral treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Perinatal cytomegalovirus infection is frequent in preterm infants and may be serious. It is important to detect cytomegalovirus infections and to develop preventive methods.
Pérez Paya
A
A
Servicios de Neonatologia, Hospital Infantil Le Fe, Valencia, Espana. amperezp@comv.es
Apolinar Valiente
E
E
Acosta Boga
B
B
Ribes Koniekx
C
C
Díaz Marijuan
C
C
Muñoz Guillén
A
A
D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012189:Retrospective Studies