Disseminated herpes simplex infection in a twin: the role of the "stat" autopsy in immediate therapeutic intervention for survival of multiple birth neonates.
Multiple birth neonates are unique in sharing similar intrauterine, and commonly the extrauterine, environments. The development of an infectious disease in one infant during the perinatal period assumes special significance in this setting, and the other siblings are often at high risk for a similar disease. Under these circumstances it is important to make a rapid etiologic diagnosis to provide appropriate therapeutic intervention. The immediate, or "stat", autopsy is a diagnostic modality involving the use of multiple procedures for the rapid diagnosis of perinatal infection which may be lifesaving in the setting of multiple birth neonates. This report describes the use of the "stat" autopsy to diagnose a fatal case of disseminated herpes simplex infection in a twin, which lead to the immediate treatment of the surviving sibling with appropriate antiviral medication.
Schwartz
D A
DA
Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Bueso-Ramos
C
C
Siegel
R
R
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001344:Autopsy; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014427:Twins
D000212:Acyclovir