Cmv+

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What is your policy on a pregnant RN/tech/etc taking care of a patient who is CMV+?

We have had a CMV+ patient for 8 weeks who is currently 32 weeks pregnant with twins. We have a list of who has taken care of her and we all take our turn. One of our nurses found out recently that she is pregnant yet the charge nurse still assigned the patient to her stating that "It was her turn to take care of the patient."

I don't care whose turn it was I don't think it was right to assign a pregnant RN to a patient who is CMV+.

Am I overreacting?

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That's a tough one.

The risk of the pregnant RN acquiring the infection is very low (transmitted by direct contact with bodily fluids, so universal precautions should cover her). It is also likely that she has already been exposed to the virus, because up to 85% of the population has been.

The risks to the fetus are if the first infection with CMV occurs during pregnancy. I would think that the hospital would screen the pregnant RN for antibodies and/or NOT assign her this patient just out of an abundance of caution. If it were not imperative for her to take this patient, then I think it's unnecessary for her to be assigned this patient just because a theoretical risk is present.

I would think if it's that concerning to you, however, that you could have volunteered to take her turn with the CMV+ patient so that she would not have to. CMV is not something that is routinely tested for in pregnant women, so you probably have CMV+ patients much more often that you know.

Amanda

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Where I work, it is a personal choice, we have had someone's primary come up positive and they choose to stay with the kid. Universal precautions are fine, esp since it is mainly shed in the urine. But if a PG person doesn't feel comfortable, then we don't make her.

Is the mom truely positive or does she just come up positive because she has been exposed, like most of have been. Also, if mom is truely infected, then those babies will be too,so that is something to keep in mind for after delivery.

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That's a tough one.

I would think if it's that concerning to you, however, that you could have volunteered to take her turn with the CMV+ patient so that she would not have to. CMV is not something that is routinely tested for in pregnant women, so you probably have CMV+ patients much more often that you know.

Amanda

I am also pregnant and I work night shift whereas the other RN works day shift. Therefore I wouldn't and couldn't have volunteered to take on the patient for her.

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Is the mom truely positive or does she just come up positive because she has been exposed, like most of have been. Also, if mom is truely infected, then those babies will be too,so that is something to keep in mind for after delivery.

She delivered this morning via c-section. She ruptured at 0225, she was contracting, and they took her to L&D where she delivered 2 baby boys. One is doing great, the other has hydrocephalus :(

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Pregnant nurses don't look after these patients where I work.

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