Comprehensiveness of Testing Among Herpes Simplex Virus Infected Infants: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Christopher M Pruitt1, Lise E Nigrovic2, Stephen B Freedman3
1From the Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|July 7, 2022
Abstract:
Despite clear testing recommendations for herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in infants, few data exist on the comprehensiveness of HSV testing in practice. In a 23-center study of 112 infants with confirmed HSV disease, less than one-fifth had all recommended testing performed, highlighting the need for increased awareness of and adherence to testing recommendations for this vulnerable population.
Related Concept Videos
Herpes
Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV‑1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for orolabial lesions. It is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae. Once the virus infects a host cell, its double‑stranded DNA genome is delivered into the nucleus, where a coordinated cascade of immediate‑early, early, and late gene expression directs viral DNA replication, structural protein synthesis, and virion assembly. After primary infection of epithelial cells, HSV-1...
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...


