Guideline No. 420: Cytomegalovirus Infection in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To provide an update on current recommendations for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy. The objectives of this guideline are: TARGET POPULATION: Patients of child-bearing age, pregnant patients, and patients planning a pregnancy.

BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS: The patient partners urged us to make awareness of preventive strategies a high priority, despite concern that discussing CMV with patients could cause unnecessary anxiety. CMV educational interventions have shown benefits from increased awareness of cCMV prevalence and preventive strategies among providers, patients, and families.

EVIDENCE

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases for CMV in pregnancy. The search terms were developed using MeSH terms and keywords (Appendix). The results were filtered for articles published between January 2010 and October 2020 and systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, and observational studies. The main inclusion criteria were pregnant patients and infants, as the target population, and CMV infection, as the diagnosis of interest. Recommendations are graded according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force grade of recommendations and level of certainty.

VALIDATION METHODS

We collaborated with patient partners, including members of CMV Canada (cmvcanada.com). In formulating our recommendations, we included patients' voices to add a unique and valuable perspective, thus ensuring that our recommendations are relevant to the patient-provider partnership.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

All perinatal health care providers. RECOMMENDATIONS (GRADE AND LEVEL OF CERTAINTY IN PARENTHESES).