Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) Reactivation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Brief Narrative Review

Overview

Journal Infect Dis Ther

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2022 Aug 1

PMID 35913679

Authors

Daniele Roberto Giacobbe

Stefano Di Bella

Antonio Lovecchio

Lorenzo Ball

Andrea De Maria

Antonio Vena

Bianca Bruzzone

Giancarlo Icardi

Paolo Pelosi

Roberto Luzzati

Matteo Bassetti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Systemic or pulmonary reactivations of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) have been reported in critically ill patients with COVID-19, posing a dilemma for clinicians in terms of their diagnostic and clinical relevance. Prevalence of HSV-1 reactivation may be as high as > 40% in this population, but with large heterogeneity across studies, likely reflecting the different samples and/or cut-offs for defining reactivation. There is frequently agreement on the clinical significance of HSV-1 reactivation in the presence of severe manifestations clearly attributable to the virus. However, the clinical implications of HSV-1 reactivations in the absence of manifest signs and symptoms remain controversial. Our review aims at providing immunological background and at reviewing clinical findings on HSV-1 reactivations in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

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