Low prevalence of active cytomegalovirus infection in a cardiovascular intensive care unit

Active cytomegalovirus infection is not uncommon in critically ill non-immunosuppressed patients. We conducted a preliminary observational study to determine the prevalence of active cytomegalovirus infection in cardiovascular surgical patients. One hundred patients admitted to the intensive care unit following cardiovascular surgery were enrolled between January 2010 and May 2010. Four patients (4%) were positive for serum pp65 antigens, though cytomegalovirus-positive serology (immunoglobulin G, IgG) was found in 98 patients (98%) including those four patients. Active cardiac diseases and their operative procedures including cardiopulmonary bypass may not be significant risk factors for active cytomegalovirus infection unless systemic derangements are also present.