Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025
Porcine Corneal Tissue Explant to Study the Efficacy of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Antivirals
Published on: September 20, 2021
Epidemiology and treatment of herpes simplex virus in the neonatal intensive care unit
Nellie Chen1, Ryan Kilpatrick2, Erik J VerHage3
1Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Objective:
Describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with acyclovir exposure and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.
Study Design:
Our primary analysis was to evaluate the prevalence of HSV infection among infants in the NICU who received acyclovir. We compared characteristics of infants with and without HSV and used multivariable regression analyses to assess associations between infection and clinical outcomes.
Result:
Of 1,057,061 infants, 17,910 (2%) received acyclovir. Of those who received acyclovir, 1090 (5%) had HSV. Infection was associated with lower gestational age and lower birth weight. Multivariable models demonstrated that infected infants had higher mortality, greater postmenstrual age at discharge, and longer length of stay.
Conclusion:
Infants in the NICU who received acyclovir and have HSV are more likely to be born at lower gestational age, have lower birth weight, and have higher morbidities and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...