How to Provide Breast Milk for the Preterm Infant and Avoid Symptomatic Cytomegalovirus Infection with Possible Long-Term Sequelae

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is able to replicate in the breast milk of lactating mothers and thus the offspring might be affected by mild to severe symptoms of postnatal CMV disease in case of prematurity; not in term infants. Sepsis-like syndrome affects only very low birth infants; and few cases have been reported. The neurodevelopmental long-term outcome of those preterm infants revealed possible subtle deficiencies, but no major neurodevelopmental impairment. Neurodevelopmental sequelae are still in discussion and seem somewhat overestimated after careful evaluation of the published evidence. The main focus of postnatal CMV disease lies upon the extremely low birth weight of infants. Elimination of CMV is provided by short-term heating methods like the most widely used Holder pasteurization. Freezing and thawing methods leave a risk for CMV acquisition. The benefits of untreated breast milk have to be considered to outweigh the possible sequelae of postnatal CMV infection in the most vulnerable preterm infants.