Mucosal Site Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus in Neonates.

Graf, Rachel J; Viviana Hoyos García, Ingrith; Dendi, Alvaro; White, Natalie O; Pifer, Traci; Harris, Rachelle; Salamon, Douglas; Mejias, Asuncion et al. · J Pediatr · 2024

Where this comes from

Abstract

From 2001 to 2023, 17 (14%) of 120 neonates with confirmed herpes simplex virus infection tested positive for herpes simplex virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from only mucosal sites without a clinical mucosal lesion. Whether mucosal PCR positivity reflects early infection that may lead to recognizable disease, transient colonization, or a false-positive PCR result remains a clinical conundrum and warrants further study.

Medical subject headings