Management of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus infections.

Author(s): Balfour HH Jr, Benson C, Braun J, Cassens B, Erice A, Friedman-Kien A, Klein T, Polsky B, Safrin S

Affiliation(s): Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota Health Sciences Center, Minneapolis.

Publication date & source: 1994-03, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr., 7(3):254-60.

Publication type: Case Reports; Consensus Development Conference; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Persons with AIDS who have CD4+ counts < or = 100 and transplant patients, especially bone marrow allograft recipients, may experience clinically significant infections with acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Patients who have received prior repeated acyclovir treatment appear to be at the highest risk of harboring acyclovir-resistant strains. Algorithms for the management of these infections were developed at a recent roundtable symposium. The consensus of the panelists was that treatment with foscarnet should be initiated within 7-10 days in patients suspected to have acyclovir-resistant HSV or VZV infections. Foscarnet therapy should be continued for at least 10 days or until lesions are completely healed.