Evaluation of a prescreening blood donor program for prevention of perinatal transfusion-acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a prescreened CMV seronegative blood donor group in preventing transfusion-acquired CMV infection in premature infants in the perinatal period. Group 0 donors with known CMV seronegative status were recruited to supply blood to the neonatal intensive care nurseries. One hundred and twenty-seven low birth weight infants born of CMV seronegative mothers remained seronegative when blood for transfusion was screened for CMV antibody.

Evaluation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody screening tests for blood donors.

Four technics were compared to find the most suitable screening test for the cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody status in blood donors. One hundred thirty-five donor samples were tested by two enzyme immunoassays, EIA(Litton) and EIA(Abbott), and by latex agglutination (LA) and complement fixation (CF). The seroreactivity of the tests were judged by concordance of three or more methods.

Antiviral chemotherapy.

The above discussion is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to discuss several compounds which are particularly promising at this time. There is no question that great strides have been made in the development of antiviral compounds over the past couple of decades. Many questions remain unanswered such as long-term effects on the host, possible emergence of resistant viruses, optimal routes of administration, and the proper regimens for particular viruses and diseases.

Cytomegalovirus infections of the neonate and infant.

Cytomegalovirus is ubiquitous. While most infections are asymptomatic, infants and children acquiring CMV may excrete the virus for years in spite of significant antibody responses. CMV may be transmitted vertically or horizontally.

Primary cytomegalovirus infection in adolescent pregnancy.

In a prospective study of 3,253 pregnant adolescents, 1,404 were seronegative for cytomegalovirus (CMV). Specimen collection at each antenatal visit, including urine for viral culture and serum for complement-fixing antibody, allowed definition of primary CMV infection in 14 subjects (1%). Seven of 14 subjects delivered congenitally infected infants, including 5/7 subjects with third trimester infections, and 2/5 subjects with second trimester infections.