title: Clinical impact of HSV-1 detection in the lower respiratory tract from hospitalized adult patients.
abstract: The occurrence and clinical impact of herpes simplex virus (HSV) were evaluated in 342 bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from 237 patients. HSV-1 and HSV-2 were detected in 32.1% and <1% of patients, respectively. A significant difference of HSV-1 prevalence and load was found in relation to admission to intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation and mortality within 28 days; in particular, a viral load ≥10(5) copies/mL bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was significantly associated with critical features. No association was found with immune status or other characteristics. Nine of 21 (42.9%) cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia were positive for HSV-1, with poor outcome in six.
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, University Hospital San Giovanni Battista di Torino, Turin, Italy. cristina.costa@unito.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sidoti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saldan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinesi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balloco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merlino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Solidoro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019562:Viral Load