Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119173

Gary A. Richwald, MD, MPH, Former Director, Los Angeles County STD Clinic, 250 Fifth Ave, Venice, CA 90291, 310-396-2200, drgary1@comcast.net

As many as 35 to 40 million Americans are unaware that they have genital HSV-2 infection. This is a pressing problem because: 1) most new infections are due to transmission by individuals with asymptomatic or unrecognized genital herpes (GH); 2) infection in the third trimester of pregnancy can lead to neonatal herpes; 3) elevated risk of HIV acquisition is associated with HSV infection; and 4) HSV-2 appears to have a role in many forms of lower genital tract inflammation. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended type-specific serologic testing (TSST) for herpes in 2002, the use of these tests has been limited. New guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the revised CDC STD Treatment Guidelines are likely to result in increased use of testing. At a March 2005 consensus meeting organized by the American Social Health Association, TSST for herpes was endorsed for the following situations: 1) patient with typical GH lesion, culture not done or negative; 2) patient with clinical symptoms suggestive of GH, without typical lesions; 3) sexual partners of patients with GH; 4) patient request to know infection status; 5) STD screening; 6) prenatal screening; and 7) patients with HIV infection. Each of these indications will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• See abstract

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Member of speaker's bureau for GlaxoSmithKline..