title: Herpes simplex virus infection in burned patients: epidemiology of 11 cases.
abstract: Burned patients suffer significant immunosuppression during the first 3 or 4 weeks after hospitalization. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are commonly seen in immunosuppressed patients and may account for considerable morbidity and some mortality. We studied retrospectively 11 patients with severe burn injury who became infected with HSV. We determined the prevalence of viral infection in this group of patients. Serological testing and viral culture was used to diagnose HSV infection. No general complications appeared in these 11 patients in association with HSV but two patients died of multiorgan failure. Locally, areas of active epidermal regeneration were most commonly affected. Acyclovir therapy was not used and the duration of hospitalization was normal in these 11 patients.
authors.affiliation: Unit Burn Center, Pellegrin Hospital, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bourdarias
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutillas
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Castede
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lafon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014776:Virus Cultivation; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral