(A909) Assessing the Evidence-based Interventions and Policy Mobilization on CMV Infection Prevention in U.S. Pregnant Women

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a known congenital cause of hearing loss. The aim of this scoping review is to describe current interventions and policies regarding CMV screening in the U.S., identify successful strategies for the improvement of CMV screening rates, and reccommend future implementation in U.S. healthcare settings. This work will contribute to the advancement of CMV and hearing loss prevention through the identification of gaps in education, policy, and practice.

Methods: This scoping review included American articles published in English between 2014 and 2024. We explored the availability of evidence-based interventions and programs aiming to improve CMV screening rates for early detection and prevention in at-risk U.S. pregnant women or focused on the scope of policy and mobilization efforts aimed at raising awareness on the importance of CMV screenings. Guiding questions included: What is the scope of CMV educational and screening interventions for CMV prevention in pregnant women? What are the barriers encountered in the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions addressing CMV infections in U.S. this population?

Results: Consistent findings between reviewed articles included: The importance of combining cost-effective CMV screening policies with educational and behavior modification efforts to enhance awareness and reduce infection; Barriers to access which emphasize the value of addressing both systemic and individual-level challenges to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of CMV screening and prevention efforts; Targeted messaging and behavior-focused interventions are critical in education to increase awareness.

Conclusions: From this work, our goal is to inform the medical community about the importance of education and potential screening of CMV during pregnancy to prevent congenital hearing loss. Next steps include further investigations on methods to implement maternal education, designing tools to share with patients, and further research on the viability and practically of maternal screening.