Herpes simplex virus in febrile neutropenic children undergoing chemotherapy for cancer: a prospective cohort study

The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral herpes simplex virus (HSV) as detected by polymerase chain reaction, in pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia. Our secondary objectives were to describe the association between oral HSV and prolonged fever, neutropenia, mucositis, and response to initial antimicrobial therapy.

In this prospective cohort study, we obtained a mouth swab and blood specimen from oncology patients with febrile neutropenia, and tested them for HSV by polymerase chain reaction. Prolonged fever was defined as the presence of fever 48 hours after initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.

Of the 75 oral and blood specimens obtained, only 7 oral swabs (9%) and 2 blood samples (3%) were positive for HSV. Oral HSV was not associated with prolonged fever or neutropenia. However, oral HSV was associated with longer median duration of mucositis (8 days; interquartile range, 0-12 days) compared with negative episodes (0 days; interquartile range, 0-2.5 days); P = 0.005. Oral HSV also was associated with inferior successful response to initial antimicrobial therapy (1 of 7, 14.3%) compared with negative episodes (51 of 67, 76.1%); P = 0.002.

The prevalence of HSV infection in pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia was low and was not associated with prolonged fever. However, oral HSV was associated with prolonged mucositis and poorer response to initial therapy. It is unknown whether early intervention with acyclovir can alter these associations.