Abstract:

Objective To investigate the infections of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) of high-risk newborns in Xiaogan City, and to analyze the risk factors of such high viral load. Methods High-risk newborns admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Xiaogan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected as the research subjects, urine samples were collected for CMV-DNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection, and the infection rate was calculated. The newborns were divided into high-load group and low-load group based on quantitative PCR detection of viral DNA load. The clinical data of the two groups were compared, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze and screen out the independent risk factors of congenital CMV infection and high viral DNA load in high-risk newborns. Results The infection rate of congenital CMV in high-risk newborns admitted to Xiaogan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology was approximately 7.0% (172/2 448). The differences between two groups in terms of the residence place of pregnant women and presence or absence of abnormal amniotic fluid were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of congenital CMV infection and high viral DNA load in high-risk newborns was elevated among pregnant women living in rural areas and abnormal increase in amniotic fluid (all P<0.05). Conclusion The infection rate of congenital CMV of high-risk newborns is relatively high in high-risk newborns treated in Xiaogan. Regional health care management during pregnancy and CMV screening after delivery, especially rural pregnant women and those with abnormal amniotic fluid should be strengthened.

Key words: cytomegalovirus infection, viral load, infants, newborns, risk factors