Miss Emma Webb1,2, Dr Alanna Gillespie1,2, Professor Cheryl Jones3,4, Dr Zeffie Poulakis1,2,5, Associate Professor Jan Hodgson1, Professor Jim Buttery6,7, Dr Dan Casalaz8, Professor Andrew Daley5,9, Associate Professor Susan Donath1,2, Associate Professor Amanda Gwee1,2,5, Dr Bron Hennebry8, Associate Professor Sue Jacobs9, Dr Rosalynn Pszczola1,10, Dr Rachael Purcell6, Dr Kerryn Saunders6,7, Associate Professor Valerie Sung1,2,5
1Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, 2The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 4Sydney Children’s Hospital Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia, 5The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, 6Monash Children’s Hospital, Clayton, Australia, 7Monash University, Clayton, Australia, 8Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Australia, 9The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, 10Western Health, Sunshine, Australia
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the leading non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Recent evidence suggests treating cCMV within one month of an affected baby’s birth may be beneficial in preventing progression or development of hearing loss. Diagnosing cCMV accurately requires detection of the virus in the first 21 days of life.
We aim to present the findings of our study, the Hearing Screening for congenital CytoMegaloVirus (HearS-cCMV) study, which assessed the feasibility and acceptability of additional salivary CMV screening at the time of the second positive (refer result) on the Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) test across four maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Infants were eligible for cCMV screening if they received a second ‘refer’ result on their NHS, with participating parents taking a saliva swab from their infants and returning the swab for analysis via mail. Feasibility of the HearS-cCMV study was defined as infants who complete the cCMV screening test ≤ 21 days of age as a proportion of those who return a refer result on their second newborn hearing screen ≤21 days. Acceptability of the HearS-cCMV study was measured by qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with parents and NHS staff to explore barriers and enablers of completing cCMV screening, and measurement of parental anxiety levels (using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI).
We found it was feasible and acceptable for parents to complete salivary CMV screening in the first 21 days of life, at the time of infants receiving a second ‘refer’ result on their NHS. Focus groups completed with NHS staff to assess experiences of the HearS-cCMV study is currently being analysed. Completing early targeted cCMV screening enables the accurate identification of cCMV as a cause of congenital SNHL, ensuring early identification of the virus and appropriate audiological and infectious disease management of these infants.
Biography:
Emma Webb works as clinical audiologist and is in her third year of PhD studies at the University of Melbourne. Emma’s thesis topic is “Understanding factors facilitating early screening for congenital cytomegalovirus”, which is the leading non-genetic cause of permanent hearing loss in infants and children