{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T20:10:38Z","timestamp":1767211838105,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,8]],"date-time":"2025-07-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751932800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of congenital and acquired viral infections in newborns. While acquired infections are often asymptomatic, premature infants\u2014especially those born before 30 weeks of gestation or with a very low birth weight (&lt;1500 g)\u2014are at an increased risk for severe infections. These can manifest as thrombocytopenia, liver failure, sepsis-like symptoms, and, in rare cases, death. HCMV is transmitted through various human secretions, including breast milk, which is the optimal feeding method for premature infants. Methods: We present five premature neonates, born between 23 and 26 weeks of gestation, each with a distinct clinical presentation of acquired HCMV infection. Results: All infants tested negative for congenital CMV infection via molecular urine testing within the first three weeks of life. Acquired infection was diagnosed between the second and third month of life, with symptoms such as septic shock, persistent thrombocytopenia, and signs of liver failure. Each infant received antiviral treatment along with regular viral load monitoring. Unfortunately, one patient died due to complications of prematurity. The remaining infants were discharged and continue to receive follow-up care in an outpatient clinic. Conclusions: These cases of postnatally acquired CMV infection aim to increase awareness of its highly heterogeneous and nonspecific clinical presentation, which may result in an incorrect, delayed, or concealed diagnosis. Currently, there are no clear guidelines on how to manage the presence of the virus in maternal breast milk, particularly for premature infants. It should be recommended to perform a molecular CMV test in all breast-fed preterm infants who present with sepsis-like symptoms, thrombocytopenia, liver failure, or other organ involvement. In case of a confirmed aCMV diagnosis, appropriate treatment should be introduced.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children12070900","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,8]],"date-time":"2025-07-08T04:18:11Z","timestamp":1751948291000},"page":"900","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Clinical Presentation of Postnatally Acquired Cytomegalovirus Infection in Preterm Infants\u2014A Case Series Report"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7444-0058","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dobrochna","family":"Wojciechowska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"II Department of Neonatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"},{"name":"Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dominika","family":"Galli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Scientific Society of Neonatology and Perinatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9382-9798","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Justyna","family":"Kowalczewska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Student Scientific Society of Neonatology and Perinatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5214-2719","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tomasz","family":"Szczapa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"II Department of Neonatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3908-6617","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katarzyna Ewa","family":"Wr\u00f3blewska-Seniuk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"II Department of Neonatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1873","DOI":"10.1038\/s41372-021-01129-z","article-title":"Transmission of Cytomegalovirus in Fresh and Freeze\u2013Thawed Mother\u2019s Own Milk to Very Preterm Infants: A Cohort Study","volume":"41","author":"Volder","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. 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