Breastfeeding and cytomegalovirus infections

Abstract

Perinatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has recently become a matter of some debate. It is acquired by the newborn mainly via breast milk and though this has practically no consequences in term newborns, it may cause severe symptomatic disease in preterm newborns. Almost all CMV-seropositive women eliminate the virus via their milk; freezing breast milk at -20 degrees C and pasteurization may respectively reduce or eliminate the viral load. No evidence has yet been found in preterm neonates for sequelae related to CMV infection acquired via breast milk. The administration of fresh breast milk to very premature neonates who constitute a population at risk is controversial.