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Herpesviruses: emerging nosocomial pathogens?

D E Fry1

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. dfry@salud.unm.edu

Surgical Infections
|February 22, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Hospitalized patients with herpesvirus infections are typically experiencing reactivation of latent disease, not new nosocomial infections. This reactivation can be life-threatening for immunosuppressed individuals.

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

  • Herpesviruses are common pathogens infecting over 90% of adults.
  • Hospitalized patients, often immunosuppressed, are at increased risk for herpesvirus manifestations.
  • Distinguishing between reactivated latent infections and nosocomial herpesvirus infections in hospitals is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the origin of herpesvirus manifestations in hospitalized patients.
  • To differentiate between latent herpesvirus reactivation and nosocomial infections.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive review of English-language literature on herpesvirus infections was conducted.

Main Results:

  • Eight human herpesviruses are known, characterized by double-stranded DNA and a specific structure.
  • Herpesvirus transmission typically occurs via oral secretions.
  • Reactivation syndromes are observed in immunocompromised patients, including transplant recipients, cancer patients, and those with AIDS.
  • Human herpesvirus-5 (cytomegalovirus) is associated with severe infections, while human herpesvirus-7's role is less defined.

Conclusions:

  • Herpesvirus clinical presentations in surgical patients are predominantly reactivations of latent infections, not nosocomial infections.
  • Reactivated herpesvirus disease poses a lethal threat to immunosuppressed hosts.

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