title: Herpes simplex virus resistance to acyclovir and penciclovir after two decades of antiviral therapy.
abstract: Acyclovir, penciclovir, and their prodrugs have been widely used during the past two decades for the treatment of herpesvirus infections. In spite of the distribution of over 2.3 x 10(6) kg of these nucleoside analogues, the prevalence of acyclovir resistance in herpes simplex virus isolates from immunocompetent hosts has remained stable at approximately 0.3%. In immuncompromised patients, in whom the risk for developing resistance is much greater, the prevalence of resistant virus has also remained stable but at a higher level, typically 4 to 7%. These observations are examined in the light of characteristics of the virus, the drugs, and host factors.
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 0DE, United Kingdom. teresa.h.bacon@gsk.com
authors.forename: Teresa H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Myron J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Jeffry J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Leary
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Sarisky
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D006147:Guanine; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C053539:penciclovir; D006147:Guanine; D000212:Acyclovir