Transmission of cytomegalovirus in fresh and freeze–thawed mother’s own milk to very preterm infants: a cohort study

Christina Volder, Benedicte Juul Work, Silje Vermedal Hoegh, Maria Christina Eckhardt, Gitte Zachariassen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to clarify: (i) the frequency of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) transmission, (ii) the association between the viral load in mother's own milk (MOM), the amount of fresh MOM and transmission, and (iii) the frequency of sepsis-like-symptoms (SLS) among infants born to seropositive mothers compared to infants born to seronegative mothers.

STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study enrolled very preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks) from Denmark. Weekly samples of fresh MOM and urine were analyzed for HCMV-DNA.

RESULTS: Twenty-six very preterm infants were enrolled. Four acquired an HCMV infection, of which two developed SLS. HCMV-infected infants received MOM with a significant higher viral load compared to the HCMV-uninfected infants.

CONCLUSION: A combination of a high viral load and an increased amount of fresh MOM increased the risk of HCMV transmission. SLS was only slightly more common among infants exposed to HCMV positive MOM.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Perinatology
Volume41
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)1873-1878
ISSN0743-8346
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • Breast Feeding
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections/epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Milk, Human
  • Mothers
  • Prospective Studies

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