Is it time to adopt routine cytomegalovirus screening in pregnancy? No!

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus is caused by maternal primary or nonprimary infection during pregnancy and is a major preventable cause of neurodisability. The proposed strategies to reduce congenital cytomegalovirus include primary prevention with maternal hygiene measures and secondary prevention by serologic screening for detecting maternal primary infection. A recent randomized trial found that high-dose valaciclovir treatment resulted in a significant reduction in fetal infection after first-trimester maternal primary infection, leading to calls to start routine serologic screening in pregnancy. Previously, observational studies have found a reduction in fetal infection with after maternal p..