Abstract
Aim The main purpose of this article is to assess trends in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
reported among infants in California neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) during
2005 to 2016.
Study Design The California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative collects data on all very low
birth weight (VLBW, birth weight ≤ 1,500 g) and acutely ill infants > 1,500 g, representing
92% of NICUs in California. We compared clinical characteristics and length of hospital
stay among infants with and without reported CMV infection (CMV-positive viral culture
or polymerase chain reaction).
Results During 2005 to 2016, CMV infection was reported in 174 VLBW infants and 145 infants > 1,500 g,
or 2.7 (range: 1.5–4.7) and 1.2 (range: 0.8–1.7) per 1,000 infants, respectively (no
significant annual trend). Among infants > 1,500 g, 12 (8%) versus 4,928 (4%) of those
reported with versus without CMV infection died (p < 0.05). The median hospital stay was significantly longer among infants reported
with versus without CMV infection for both VLBW infants (98 vs. 46 days) and infants > 1,500 g
(61 vs. 14 days) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion Reports of CMV infection remained stable over a 12-year period. Although we were
not able to assess whether infection was congenital or postnatal, CMV infection among
infants > 1,500 g was associated with increased mortality.
Keywords
cytomegalovirus - CMV infection - infant, very low birth weight - California
