AAP Seeks to Close Knowledge Gaps With Clinical Report on Caring for Infants With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infections

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that typically causes mild illness in otherwise healthy people. If babies are infected with CMV before birth — a condition known as congenital CMV infection, or cCMV — the infection can result in lifelong consequences. Congenital CMV is one of the leading causes of childhood hearing loss, and hearing changes may be the only sign of congenital infection. An AAP clinical report, “Care of the Infant With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection,” published in the October 2026 Pediatrics (published online Sept. 21) expands on guidance in the AAP Red Book: 2024-2027 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, with a focus on helping clinicians recognize the risk factors and signs of congenital CMV and provide proper newborn evaluation and potential treatment.

Different approaches can be taken to screen for congenital CMV and the report recommends testing newborns who do not pass newborn hearing tests as well as those with specific physical findings associated with congenital CMV. This approach is termed “hearing-targeted plus expanded testing” and was recommended with consideration of individual health, population health equity and health system impact. Diagnosing congenital CMV among newborns creates opportunities for timely treatment when needed, closer monitoring, and better long‑term hearing and developmental outcomes.

Families of children with congenital CMV need clear, consistent guidance and coordinated follow‑up care across systems to support optimal child development. Report authors say cCMV must be addressed as a health equity priority by expanding access to screening, diagnosis and follow‑up care for all families. Clinical reports created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.