Congenital cytomegalovirus: Screening strategies and diagnostic challenges.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic methodology or primary human data reported
PubMed 42386471 · doi:10.1016/j.semperi.2026.152278
What was done
The authors conducted a narrative review evaluating current diagnostic approaches, screening modalities (particularly targeted versus universal newborn screening), and unresolved clinical questions regarding congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or numerical outcomes. It highlights that cCMV is the most common congenital infection worldwide and a major cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Although the majority of infected infants are asymptomatic at birth, a subset later develops SNHL and neurodevelopmental impairments, sustaining ongoing debate over targeted versus universal screening.
Why it matters
Because asymptomatic infants at birth can still develop progressive hearing loss and developmental sequelae, defining optimal screening and diagnostic pathways is critical for timely intervention.
Limits
The abstract provides no original empirical data, meta-analytic pooling, or systematic search criteria. No quantitative comparative outcomes between targeted and universal screening strategies are reported.
Cited by
- supports Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infectious cause of hearing loss.