Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection occurring in second twin of an asymptomatic mother. Failure of a modern protocol.
A case of neonatal herpes that occurred after vaginal delivery in the absence of genital lesions is presented. The mother had a history of drug addiction and genital herpes. Asymptomatic shedding of herpes simplex virus type 2 from the cervix was noted in the second trimester of pregnancy. Despite being followed with a protocol of close surveillance and serial culturing of the genital tract, the patient gave birth to twins, one of whom developed herpes simplex virus type 2 in the postpartum period. This report presents discussion of this case and herpes surveillance protocols.
D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000151:congenital* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012008:Recurrence; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification