Hygiene-based measures for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women: a systematic review

Background: Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most frequent congenital infection worldwide causing important sequelae. However, no vaccine or antiviral treatments are currently available, thus interventions are restricted to behavioral measures. The aim of this systematic review was to assess evid...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Rodríguez-Muñoz, María F, Martín-Martín, Clara, Kovacheva, Katina, Olivares, Maria Eugenia, Izquierdo, Nuria, Perez-Romero, Pilar, Garcia-Rios, Estefani
Format: article
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repository:Repisalud
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/19014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/19014
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Cytomegalovirus Infections
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Cytomegalovirus
Hygiene
Description
Summary:Background: Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most frequent congenital infection worldwide causing important sequelae. However, no vaccine or antiviral treatments are currently available, thus interventions are restricted to behavioral measures. The aim of this systematic review was to assess evidence from available intervention studies using hygiene-based measures to prevent HCMV infection during pregnancy. Methods: Studies published from 1972 to 2023 were searched in Medline, PsycInfo, and Clinical Trials (PROSPERO, CRD42022344840) according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed by two authors, using ROBE-2 and MINORS. Results: After reviewing 6 selected articles, the outcome analysis suggested that implementation of hygiene-based interventions during pregnancy prevent, to some extent, the acquisition of congenital HCMV. Conclusions: However, these conclusions are based on limited and low-quality evidence available from few studies using this type of intervention in clinical practice. Thus, it would be necessary to perform effective and homogeneous intervention studies using hygiene-based measures, evaluated in high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs).