American Academy of Pediatrics Expands Newborn Screening Guidelines

CLEVELAND - The American Academy of Pediatrics has expanded its newborn screening guidelines to make testing more cohesive for a congenital infection that can often be underdiagnosed.

“Congenital CMV is actually the most common congenital infection and yet most people don’t even know about it. It’s one of these viruses that people get infected, usually in their first or second trimester, and it can lead to long term problems in the infant, specifically with their hearing,” said Frank Esper, MD, infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

Dr. Esper was involved in researchlooking at how to make screening for congenital CMV more cohesive since previous policies varied.

Ultimately, they were able to dramatically increase detection rates by performing targeted screenings on newborns in the nursery.

NICU babies are automatically screened since they are at higher risk.

Dr. Esper explains that the AAP’s guideline changes are important since 90-percent of infants with congenital CMV do not show any symptoms.

So, how exactly does the screening work?

“There are many ways to screen for CMV, but the main way that most places are doing is with a saliva swab. For those children who are positive, we do a second test based on their urine,” he explained.

Dr. Esper said if a newborn tests positive, they will be closely monitored for hearing loss or developmental delays. 

There are also antiviral medications available to minimize hearing loss.