Impact of acyclovir use on survival of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia and high load herpes simplex virus replication.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication can be detected in the respiratory secretions of a high proportion of ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, the clinical significance remains poorly defined. We investigated whether patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia not responding to antibiotics and in whom high levels of HSV could be detected in respiratory secretions benefit from acyclovir treatment.

Methods

Respiratory secretions (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or tracheal aspirates) were tested for HSV replication by quantitative real-time PCR. ICU survival times, clinical parameters, and radiographic findings were retrospectively compared between untreated and acyclovir treated patients with high (> 10⁵ HSV copies/mL) and low (10

SUBMITTER: Schuierer L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6954562 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature