Long-term suppressive therapy for herpes simplex - an audit

A retrospective analysis of patients, who have been on long-term suppressive therapy for recurrent episodes of herpes simplex (HSV) in a university hospital, was performed and the findings were documented and orchestrated into bar graphs. The study involved patients between the years 2000 and 2007, both inclusive. The results were compared with the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV guidelines. Eighty-two percent (57) had had the infection for at least 12 months at the start of therapy and 78.2% (54) had at least six recurrences per year before the start of treatment. Indeed, only four patients (5.8%) had a treatment interruption at 12 months or less; also only 11 patients (15.9%) had less than six outbreaks per year at the start of treatment. The former is not in-line and the latter is in-line with the guidelines.