REVIEW

Cytomegalovirus transmission from breast milk in premature babies: does it matter?

P Bryant¹, C Morley³, S Garland⁴ and N Curtis²

¹ Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine; Department of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
² Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine; Department of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
³ Department of Neonatal Medicine, Royal Women’s & Children’s Hospitals, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Women’s & Children’s Hospitals, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Curtis, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
curtisn{at}cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au

There is evidence that CMV is commonly present in breast milk and is often transmitted to babies. CMV infection acquired postnatally can cause serious disease in very premature babies. Interventions to remove CMV from breast milk are possible but may damage other important constituents.

Keywords: cytomegalovirus; breast milk; prematurity

Abbreviations: CMV, cytomegalovirus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction

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