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Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
What is it?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that belongs to the herpes family, and is related to the Epstein-Barr and varicella-zoster viruses.
In healthy people CMV infection can be symptom free. Occasionally the infection can cause a flu-like illness, lasting for a few days, with symptoms of lethargy, fever and a sore throat. However, in immunocompromised people and pregnant women the virus can cause severe infection including, pneumonitis, gastrointestinal ulceration and inflammation and neurological disease affecting the brain and spinal cord.
CMV infection is permanent and once a person is infected, they will carry it for life. Like varicella it can lay dormant in the body and reactivate itself at any time.
How is it transmitted?
CMV is spread from person-to-person through contact with blood or body fluids, coughing and exposure via the mucous membranes.
At risk groups
Children under the age of 5 are at higher risk of exposure to CMV, and it can easily spread through close contact with other children, or shared items that are contaminated like toys.
At risk groups include immunocompromised people including organ transplant recipients and pregnant women. When a pregnant woman catches CMV it can be passed onto the baby, known as congenital CMV, with one in ten babies having lasting problems that can include hearing loss, poor eyesight and developmental delays.
Prevention
There is no vaccination for CMV.
Preventative strategies for CMV infection include hand hygiene, and cleaning of surfaces and items that may have been in contact with saliva or other body fluids, and the use of standard precautions within a healthcare facility. Regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces will prevent contact transmission.
Women of child-bearing age who work in healthcare settings, schools and childcare centres should adhere to the principles of standard precautions and hand hygiene and treat all body fluids as potentially infectious.
Key messages:
- Preventative strategies are focused on the application of standard precautions.
- Infection in healthy people causes no or mild symptoms.
References
- Victorian Department of Health. Cytomegalovirus infection. 8 October 2015 2015;(Disease information and advice)
- Health N. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and pregnancy fact sheet. 11 January 2017 2017;(Infectious diseases, fact sheets. )
- Better health Channel. Cytomegalovirus (CMV). 31 July 2012 2012;