A premature infant born at 31 weeks, who had been hospitalized for a month before discharge, showed recurrent jaundice and elevated CMV-IgM antibodies (41.17 COI) and CMV-IgG (105.3 IU/mL) levels upon discharge. The infection may have been transmitted from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy, leading to congenital infection. In rare cases, this can result in premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death. In infants, symptoms may include jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, petechiae due to thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia. Surviving children may suffer from permanent conditions such as intellectual disability, neuromuscular disorders, hearing loss, and chorioretinitis. Treatment options include ganciclovir and fluconazole.

A 31-week preterm baby, undergoing a routine check-up before discharge after one month of hospitalization, was found to have recurrent jaundice. Further testing revealed that the baby’s CMV-igm antibody index reached 41.17 COI, while the CMV-lgG antibody level was 105.3 IU/mL. What does this mean?