Prevalence and determinants of congenital cytomegalovirus infection at a rural South African central hospital in the Eastern Cape
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Medpharm Publications
Abstract
Background: The Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, is a rural central hospital, serving one of
the poorest districts in South Africa. The prevalence of and risk factors for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) in this area are not
known. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital CMV and associated risk factors for babies born at NMAH.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of congenital CMV infection among babies born at
Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. Mother–baby pairs delivered consecutively from Monday to Friday, who gave informed
consent, were included. Demographic information was collected on a questionnaire. All babies were tested for congenital CMV
using a saliva swab PCR within the first week of life.
Results: A total of 302 births were assessed. Congenital CMV was prevalent in 18 births (5.96%; 95% CI 3.29–8.63) and had an
equal prevalence between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed newborns (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.00; 95% CI 0.94–1.06; p = 0.869).
Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital CMV of 5.96% is similar to findings from other resource-limited settings. There was no
significant association between maternal HIV status and congenital CMV. With the prevalence of congenital CMV being as high as
it is in the studied setting, clinicians are advised to have a high index of suspicion, especially when mothers are CMV seropositive.
Description
CITATION: Tshabalala, D., et al. 2018. Prevalence and determinants of congenital cytomegalovirus infection at a rural South African central hospital in the Eastern Cape. Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 33(4):89-92, doi:10.1080/23120053.2018.1462560.
The original publication is available at https://sajid.co.za
The original publication is available at https://sajid.co.za
Keywords
Congenital CMV, Congenital disorders, Cytomegalovirus infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Mthatha, Mother-to-child transmission
Citation
Tshabalala, D., et al. 2018. Prevalence and determinants of congenital cytomegalovirus infection at a rural South African central hospital in the Eastern Cape. Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 33(4):89-92, doi:10.1080/23120053.2018.1462560