CYTOMEGALOVIRUS

Course overview

CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) IS A WIDE-SPREAD VIRUS, WITH MANIFESTATIONS RANGING FROM ASYMPTOMATIC TO SEVERE END-ORGAN DYSFUNCTION IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL CMV DISEASE. HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IS A MEMBER OF THE VIRAL FAMILY KNOWN AS HERPESVIRUSES, HERPESVIRIDAE, OR HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-5 (HHV-5). HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTIONS COMMONLY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALIVARY GLANDS. CMV INFECTION MAY BE ASYMPTOMATIC IN HEALTHY PEOPLE, BUT THEY CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING IN AN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENT. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ROLE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORKING TOGETHER TO MANAGE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS.