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VIDEO: ‘Increasing interest’ in universal CMV screening in NICUs

NEW YORK — CMV infection is the most common congenital infection in newborns, and it causes hearing loss in approximately 20% of all infants who become infected. Shannon A. Ross, MD, MSPH, associate professor of infectious diseases at Children’s of Alabama, told Infectious Diseases in Children that there has been “increasing interest” among parents and physicians to screen all infants for CMV.

“If you are going to undertake a screening program, the best test to do is a saliva test,” she said.

Ross presented on the topic at the annual Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium.

Disclosure: Ross reports no relevant financial disclosures.