Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a leading cause of childhood hearing loss, cognitive deficits and visual impairments. Estimates suggest 20,000 babies are born with cCMV infection annually in the United States. However, universal newborn screening has not been adopted partly because of questions around cost-effectiveness.
Soren Gantt, MD, PhD, MPH, of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and coauthors created models using rates and outcomes to estimate the cost-effectiveness of universal and targeted (only newborns with failed hearing screenings) programs to screen for cCMV infection in newborns compared with no screening. A definitive diagnosis of cCMV requires viral detection in saliva, urine or blood samples.
The authors report that among all infants born in the United States, identifying one case of cCMV infection by universal screening was estimated to cost $2,000 to $10,000 or $566 to $2,832 by targeted screening. Identifying one case of hearing loss due to cCMV was $27,460 by universal screening or $975 by targeted screening.
Study limitations include estimations of the costs of screening, costs associate with hearing loss and assumptions about the impact of early intervention.
"We found that screening newborns for cCMV infection is generally associated with cost savings, or is essentially cost neutral from the perspective of net public spending, across a wide range of assumptions. These results, combined with the reported clinical benefits and high parental acceptance, appear to satisfy accepted criteria for newborn screening. Thus, in the absence of a vaccine or other effective methods to prevent cCMV infection, newborn cCMV screening appears warranted in the United States," the study concludes.
Reference: JAMA Pediatr. Published online October 10, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.2016.
Source: The JAMA Network Journals
The Evolution of Health Care Environmental Hygiene: A Long Overdue Shift in Infection Control
September 5th 2024This new column, Clean Hospital with Alexandra Peters, PhD, explores advancements in health care environmental hygiene, highlighting its growing recognition as a key component of infection prevention and honoring pioneers like Professor Stephanie Dancer.
New UV-C Disinfection Technology for Ultrasound Probes Earns FDA Clearance
September 4th 2024Chronos, a chemical-free UV-C disinfection device for ultrasound probes, received FDA clearance. It offers health care professionals a fast, automated solution to reduce cross-contamination and improve infection prevention.
Addressing Sterile Processing Instrument Errors With Advanced Technology and Data Insights
September 3rd 2024Surgical instrument errors, often linked to visualization failures during sterile processing, pose significant risks to patient safety and OR efficiency. Advanced technologies, including AI, are essential for reducing these errors and improving overall outcomes in sterile processing departments.