A nurse is assessing a newborn whose mother had a primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy. The newborn acquired CMV transplacentally. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect the newborn to exhibit?

Choice A rationale:

Allowing parents to enter the nursery while wearing masks may be a preventive measure for some situations, but it is not a standard infection control procedure in a newborn nursery.

Choice B rationale:

Airborne precautions are not required for routine infection control in a newborn nursery. They are typically reserved for specific airborne-transmitted infections.

Choice C rationale:

Placing the newborn's foot on a sterile field during a heel stick is a procedure to maintain sterile technique but is not a general infection control instruction for the nursery.

Choice D rationale:

Placing newborn bassinets at least 3 feet apart is a crucial infection control measure in a newborn nursery. It helps prevent cross-contamination and the spread of infections among newborns. Proper spacing allows for better airflow and reduces the risk of contact transmission between infants.

The correct answer is choice **b. Hearing loss**.

Choice A rationale:

Cataracts are not a common finding in newborns with congenital CMV infection. Cataracts are more commonly associated with other congenital infections like rubella, toxoplasmosis, and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Choice B rationale:

Hearing loss is one of the most common manifestations of congenital CMV infection. Up to 40-58% of infants with symptomatic congenital CMV infection develop sensorineural hearing loss, which can be unilateral or bilateral, and progressive over time.

Choice C rationale:

Macrosomia, or large birth size, is not a typical finding in congenital CMV infection. In fact, infants with symptomatic congenital CMV infection are more likely to be small for gestational age or have intrauterine growth restriction.

Choice D rationale:

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is not a common presentation of congenital CMV infection. CMV can cause inclusion bodies in the urine, but overt UTI is not a typical finding. More common manifestations include petechiae, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and central nervous system involvement.