HSV Bronchopneumonitis in Patients on Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

Previous studies have demonstrated that herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be isolated from the lower respiratory tract of 16% of patients in the ICU and that outcomes in such patients are poorer than those in patients from whom HSV is not isolated. Whether the isolation of HSV from the lower respiratory tract represents contamination or real bronchopneumonitis is unclear. To explore this issue, researchers in France studied 201 patients who were mechanically ventilated for ≥5 days and deteriorated clinically during that time. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, were neutropenic, had HIV infection, or were on immunosuppressive medications, including steroids. HSV bronchopneumonitis was considered present if HSV was detected in lower r…