Prevalence and factors associated with herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in patients attending a Baltimore City emergency department.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a common sexually transmitted disease, but there is limited data on its epidemiology among urban populations. The urban Emergency Department (ED) is a potential venue for surveillance as it predominantly serves an inner city minority population. We evaluate the seroprevalence and factors associated with HSV-2 infection among patients attending the Johns Hopkins Hospital Adult Emergency Department (JHH ED).

Methods

An identity unlinked-serosurvey was conducted between 6/2007 and 9/2007 in the JHH ED; sera were tested by the Focus HerpeSelect ELISA. Prevalence risk ratios (PRR) were used to determine factors associated with HSV-2 infection.

Results

Of 3,408 serum samples, 1,853 (54.4%) were seropositive for HSV-2. Female

SUBMITTER: Patel EU 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4103852 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature