Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection Through Human Milk in Preterm Infants: Transmission, Clinical Presentation, and Prevention.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is reactivated in the lactating breast in up to 96% of CMV seropositive mothers. There is a relevant entity of postnatally acquired symptomatic CMV infection and disease of preterm infants through raw breast milk (BM). Actual data support negative influence on long-term cognitive development. Concerning prevention, only heat inactivation eliminates virus infectivity, and short-term heat inactivation is most preservative; this can be applied effectively under routine conditions. Short-term heat inactivation for 5 minutes at 62°C maintains the benefits of feeding BM without the disadvantages of CMV transmission.
Institute of Medical Virology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str 6, Tuebingen D-72076, Germany. Electronic address: klaus.hamprecht@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
Klaus
K
Hamprecht
Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Calwerstr. 7, Tuebingen D-72076, Germany.
Rangmar
R
Goelz
D001942:Breast Feeding; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D038301:Virus Inactivation
Cytomegalovirus; Ganciclovir; Lactation; Native breast milk; Short- and long-term outcome; Very low birth weight infants (VLBW); Virus inactivation; Virus reactivation