scholarly journals Awareness and knowledge of congenital cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women and the general public: a web-based survey in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayuki Kobayashi ◽  
Aya Okahashi ◽  
Kotoba Okuyama ◽  
Naomi Hiraishi ◽  
Ichiro Morioka

Abstract Background The best approach to reduce congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMVi) is to practice behaviors that reduce cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission during pregnancy. Expanding awareness and knowledge of CMV is expected to result in increased practice of preventative behaviors. To this end, it is necessary to understand current awareness and knowledge of CMV. Methods This web-based cross-sectional survey assessed the awareness and knowledge of cCMVi among pregnant women and the general public in Japan. Participants aged 20–45 years (pregnant and non-pregnant women, and men) were identified from a consumer panel. Study outcomes (all participants) included awareness of cCMVi and other congenital conditions. Among those aware of cCMVi, outcomes included knowledge of CMV transmission routes, long-term outcomes of cCMVi, and behaviors to prevent CMV transmission during pregnancy. Outcomes limited to pregnant women included the practice of preventative behaviors and opinion on how easy it is to implement these behaviors. The data of the pregnant group (pregnant at the time of the survey) were compared with those of the general group (non-pregnant women and men). Results There were 535 participants in the pregnant group and 571 in the general group. Awareness of cCMVi was generally low (pregnant, 16.1%; general, 10.2%). Pregnant participants were significantly more aware of most congenital conditions than those in the general group, including cCMVi (P = 0.004). Knowledge about CMV/cCMVi was limited; there were no significant differences between the two groups for 24 of the 26 knowledge questions. A small proportion (one third or less) of pregnant women practiced behaviors to prevent the transmission of CMV, though most (73.3–95.3%) pregnant women who were aware of cCMVi considered such behaviors easy to implement. Conclusions Awareness and knowledge of CMV/cCMVi is low among pregnant women in Japan; the level of knowledge is similar to that among the general public. This needs to be improved. Most pregnant women considered behaviors to prevent CMV transmission easy to perform, which indicates that effectively educating pregnant women regarding the long-term outcomes of cCMVi, CMV transmission routes, and preventative behaviors will contribute to a reduced incidence of cCMVi. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000041260.

2021 ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
E.V. Usachova ◽  
◽  
E.A. Silina ◽  
T.N. Pakholchuk ◽  
O.V. Konakova ◽  
...  

Congenital CMV is the leading cause of congenital infections in newborns worldwide and can lead to significant morbidity, mortality, or long-term consequences. Purpose — to demonstrate the results of screening for cytomegalovirus infection of pregnant women and children in the first months of life and illustrate a clinical case of severe congenital CMV and the difficulties in selecting specific therapy. Materials and methods. The article presents the results of a retrospective analysis of CMV testing of 302 pregnant women at living in the Zaporozhye region. The presence of CMV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies was assessed. In addition, the clinical manifestations of CMV in 56 infants were retrospectively evaluated. A clinical case of congenital CMV in a newborn complicated by hepatitis, nephritis, carditis, pneumonia, thrombocytopenia, was presented. Statistical processing of the results was carried out by the methods of variation statistics. Results. The result of a study of a specific immunological profile for CMV in pregnant women showed that the majority of women of fertile age, residents of Zaporozhye region were seropositive to CMV. In 3% of pregnant women, CMV-specific IgM antibodies was recorded in the blood, which indicates the manifestation of an acute form of CMV and the possibility of infection of the fetus. Prolonged neonatal jaundice was the dominant clinical symptom of congenital CMV in 59.3% patients. The syndrome of perinatal CNS lesion was the second most frequent in these children. In order to illustrate the features of the course, the difficulties of diagnosis and the selection of specific therapy for severe forms of congenital CMV, a clinical case of the corresponding disease was presented. Conclusions. Most women of fertile age are immune to CMV, and 5% of pregnant women have acute primary CMV infection. CMV is the most common cause of congenital infection with substantial morbidity, mortality, and long$term squeal, including sensorineural hearing loss for newborns. Diagnosis of congenital CMV is complicated by both the polysyndromic manifestations of the disease and the lack of a clear system for testing pregnant women and newborns for CMV. The presence of alertness of neonatologists and pediatricians for CMV is a guarantee of timely diagnosis of the disease in newborns. Difficulties in the selection of specific therapy to congenital CMV due to the low sensitivity of the pathogen to acyclovir and the need to use a toxic drug — ganciclovir. Timely administration of highly specific anti-CMV-therapy not only saves the patient's life, but also improve hearing and developmental outcomes. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of these Institutes. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Key words: congenital cytomegalovirus infection, newborns, severe forms, diagnostics, manifestations, treatment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. e190-e194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruo Yoshida ◽  
Haruo Takahashi ◽  
Yukihiko Kanda ◽  
Kyoko Kitaoka ◽  
Minoru Hara

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1232-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire L. Townsend ◽  
Marianne Forsgren ◽  
Karin Ahlfors ◽  
Sten-Anders Ivarsson ◽  
Pat A. Tookey ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Giulia Lucignani ◽  
Maria Camilla Rossi Espagnet ◽  
Antonio Napolitano ◽  
Lorenzo Figà Talamanca ◽  
Francesca Ippolita Calò Carducci ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 1261-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein J Korndewal ◽  
Anne Marie Oudesluys-Murphy ◽  
Aloys C M Kroes ◽  
Marianne A B van der Sande ◽  
Hester E de Melker ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (7) ◽  
pp. 1520-1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. KORNDEWAL ◽  
A. C. T. M. VOSSEN ◽  
J. CREMER ◽  
R. S. VAN BINNENDIJK ◽  
A. C. M. KROES ◽  
...  

SUMMARYCongenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) may lead to symptoms at birth and long-term consequences. We present a nationwide, retrospective cohort study on the outcome of cCMV up to age 6 years. For this study we identified cCMV, using polymerase chain reaction, by analysing dried blood spots, which are taken shortly after birth for neonatal screening. The group of children with cCMV were compared to a group of children who were cCMV negative at birth. Data were collected about their health and development up to age 6 years. Parents of 73 693 children were invited to participate, and 32 486 (44·1%) gave informed consent for testing of their child's dried blood spot for CMV. Of the 31 484 dried blood spots tested, 156 (0·5%) were positive for cCMV. Of these, four (2·6%) children had been diagnosed with cCMV prior to this study. This unique retrospective nationwide study permits the estimation of long-term sequelae of cCMV up to the age of 6 years. The birth prevalence of cCMV in this study was 0·5%, which is in line with prior estimates. Most (97·4%) children with cCMV had not been diagnosed earlier, indicating under-diagnosis of cCMV.


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