Human herpesvirus 6 infection in febrile infants ninety days of age and younger.
BACKGROUND
The importance of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) as a pathogen in febrile infants </=90 days of age is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether febrile infants 90 days of age and younger evaluated for sepsis have evidence of HHV-6 DNA in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).


METHODS
Febrile infants </=90 days of age were tested for HHV-6 DNA using a real time quantitative fluorescent probe polymerase chain reaction assay.


RESULTS
Eighty samples from 47 infants were tested for HHV-6 DNA; 5 of 47 infants (10.6%) had HHV-6 DNA in plasma. In 2 of the 5 infants with HHV-6 DNA in plasma, HHV-6 DNA was also detected in the CSF. Both infants with evidence of HHV-6 DNA in plasma and CSF had HHV-6 Variant A infection. The quantity of HHV-6 DNA detected ranged from 70 to 169,000 DNA copies/ml. One infant with HHV-6 variant B infection had concomitant Escherichia coli bacteremia and urinary tract infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 10% of febrile infants </=90 days of age evaluated for sepsis had evidence of HHV-6 infection. HHV-6 Variant A and B infections were seen in these young infants. HHV-6 DNA was found in infants with and without another explanation for fever. Quantification of viral DNA may be important in determining the relevance of HHV-6 DNA in clinical specimens.
Byington
Carrie L
CL
Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. cbyington@med.utah.edu
Zerr
Danielle M
DM
Taggart
E William
EW
Nguy
Long
L
Hillyard
David R
DR
Carroll
Karen C
KC
Corey
Lawrence
L
D000375:Aging; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral