Cytomegalovirus infections: occupational risk for health professionals.

Health care personnel are becoming increasingly aware of potential hazards associated with caring for patients with contagious diseases. The cytomegalovirus is of special concern, because infection with this virus in a pregnant female employee could be associated with significant neurologic injury in her fetus. Nosocomial transmission from patient to health care worker has not been documented. A review of cytomegalovirus excretion in hospitalized patients and prospective evaluations of primary infection in hospital personnel do not support frequent occurrence of cytomegalovirus infection despite ample opportunity for exposure. Adherence to proper isolation techniques should be adequate to prevent nosocomial transmission of the cytomegalovirus.