title: Multicity Italian study of congenital cytomegalovirus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most frequent congenital infection in humans. Its prevalence and the frequency of disabling sequelae must be assessed in different populations to permit the formulation or assessment of preventive measures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To check the prevalence of congenital infection and seroprevalence in Italy; to verify the rate of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in infected infants; and to assess the proportion of children with SNHL attributable to congenital CMV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of congenital CMV infection was sought in 9032 children born between March 2002 and February 2003 by testing for viral DNA [CMV dried blood spot (DBS) test] in each newborn's Guthrie card and confirmation by isolation of CMV from urine collected in the first 3 weeks of life; CMV IgG testing in 1200 women of childbearing age; clinical and audiologic tests in the first 24 months for infected children; CMV DBS tests on the Guthrie cards collected from screening centers for 77 children (3 months-5 years) presenting SNHL of 40 dB or more.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMV infection was diagnosed in 14 asymptomatic and 2 symptomatic newborns (0.18%). CMV seroprevalence was 80%. In 2 infected infants, transient, unilateral SNHL was found. Nineteen of the 71 children with SNHL >70 dB were congenitally infected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of congenital CMV infection is low in Italy. Population characteristics limiting the circulation of CMV strains in adult women might explain this. The fact that CMV contributes to significant SNHL highlights the need for preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Virologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 38, 20133 Milan, Italy. maria.barbi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbi
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Binda
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caroppo
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvario
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Germinario
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozzi
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tanzi
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veronesi
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piana
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Solinas
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pugni
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bevílaqua
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D047928:Premature Birth; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G