Integrating congenital cytomegalovirus screening within a newborn hearing screening program: Is it worthwhile?. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beswick, Rachael; McHugh, Lauren; Clark, Julia E.
• Is Part Of: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. Volume 142(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Congenital cytomegalovirus -- Screening -- Hearing loss; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Oto-rhino-laryngologie -- Périodiques; Pédiatrie -- Périodiques; 618.9209751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-5876

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of the present study was to review the potential impacts and barriers to upscaling a pilot congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening program into a state-wide permanent universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) program. Design: This study reviewed the outcomes of the cCMV screening program pilot operating at three maternity hospitals to standard state-wide laboratory notifications in Queensland, Australia between August 2014 to April 2018. Stakeholder interviews were also conducted to inform state-wide program implementation. Results: Of the 485 infants tested for CMV on a saliva swab at the pilot sites, 4 (0.8%) returned a positive result. Review of the state-wide laboratory infant CMV PCR notifications for the same time-period revealed more than half of infants with cCMV (63.7%) would not have been detected under a state-wide targeted screening program as they either passed newborn hearing screening, were deceased, symptomatic, or were born <34 weeks gestational age. Barriers to state-wide program implementation included program-level factors (timing of the cCMV screen, funding, cross-agency communication, workforce and training) and community-level factors (low public cCMV awareness and prevalence). Conclusions: Although cCMV screening alongside UNHS is achievable, a number of barriers need to be addressed prior to state-wide program implementation.