Postnatal cytomegalovirus infection and its effect on hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants aged 3–10 months : a cohort study in Eastern Uganda.

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dc.contributor.authorOkalany, Regina Akwi Noela
dc.contributor.authorMukunya, David
dc.contributor.authorOlupot-Olupot, Peter
dc.contributor.authorChebet, Martin
dc.contributor.authorOkello, Francis
dc.contributor.authorWeeks, D. Andrew
dc.contributor.authorBisso, Fred
dc.contributor.authorTylleska¨r, Thorkild
dc.contributor.authorBurgoine, Kathy
dc.contributor.authorEngebretsen, Marie Stadskleiv Ingunn
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-01T12:04:55Z
dc.date.available2026-07-01T12:04:55Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionResearch article
dc.description.abstractBackground Hearing impairment and neurodevelopmental disorders pose a significant global health burden in children. The link between postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and these outcomes remains unclear. This study explored the association of postnatal CMV infection with hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes in term infants aged 3 to 10 months. Methods This was a cohort sub-study within the BabyGel cluster randomised trial in Eastern Uganda. From 1265 term infants screened for CMV, 219 were negative at birth but positive at 3 months, and were age-matched with 219 CMV-negative controls. CMV status was determined by PCR screening of saliva samples, with positive results confirmed using urine samples (Chai Open qPCR, Santa Clara, CA). From the established cohort, 424 infants were successfully followed up between 3 to 10 months of age. Clinical assessments included neurodevelopmental evaluation using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, and hearing screening using Otoacoustic Emission testing (Otoport Lite, Otodynamics Limited). Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, chisquare tests and log binomial regression models with Stata 18. Results Of the 424 infants included in the study, 206 were postnatal CMV-infected and 218 were uninfected. Neurodevelopmental assessments indicated no differences between postnatalCMV-infected infants and uninfected groups (ARR 0.88, 95% CI [0.67, 1.15], p = 0.346). Hearing screening revealed a 1.99-fold increased risk of a positive result for postnatal CMVinfected infants compared to uninfected infants (67/106 vs. 39/106, 95% CI [1.27, 3.12], p = 0.003). Conclusion Postnatal CMV infection was associated with more positive hearing screenings, though no significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes were observed in early infancy. Exploration into the feasibility of incorporating hearing and CMV screening into routine care will play a vital role in early identification and intervention, improving the management of both hearing and CMV-related conditions in resource-limited settings
dc.description.sponsorshipThe European Union under grant number RIA2017MC-2029 ; Busitema University
dc.identifier.citationOkalany, N. R. A., Mukunya, D., Olupot-Olupot, P., Chebet, M., Okello, F., Weeks, A. D., Bisso, F., Tylleskär, T., Burgoine, K., & Engebretsen, I. M. S. (2025). Postnatal cytomegalovirus infection and its effect on hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants aged 3–10 months: A cohort study in Eastern Uganda. PLoS ONE, 20(2), e0318655. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318655
dc.identifier.urihttps://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/7039
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPLOS One
dc.titlePostnatal cytomegalovirus infection and its effect on hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants aged 3–10 months : a cohort study in Eastern Uganda.
dc.typeArticle
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