Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection Through Human Milk in Preterm Infants: Transmission, Clinical Presentation, and Prevention

Klaus Hamprecht; Rangmar Goelz

doi:10.1016/j.clp.2016.11.012

Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection Through Human Milk in Preterm Infants: Transmission, Clinical Presentation, and Prevention

Clin Perinatol. 2017 Mar;44(1):121-130. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2016.11.012. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Authors

Klaus Hamprecht¹, Rangmar Goelz²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Medical Virology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str 6, Tuebingen D-72076, Germany. Electronic address: klaus.hamprecht@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
² Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Calwerstr. 7, Tuebingen D-72076, Germany.

PMID: 28159200
DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2016.11.012

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Ganciclovir; Lactation; Native breast milk; Short- and long-term outcome; Very low birth weight infants (VLBW); Virus inactivation; Virus reactivation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding
Cytomegalovirus Infections / diagnosis
Cytomegalovirus Infections / prevention & control*
Cytomegalovirus Infections / transmission
Hot Temperature
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
Milk, Human / virology*
Virus Inactivation