Cytomegalovirus transmission from breast milk in premature babies: does it matter?
- 1Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of General Medicine; Department of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- 2Paediatric 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
- 3Department of Neonatal Medicine, Royal Women’s & Children’s Hospitals, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
- 4Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Women’s & Children’s Hospitals, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
- 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
- Accepted 23 April 2002
Abstract
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.
