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

Abstract #119174

Terri Warren, RN, MS, ANP, MEd, Westover Heights Clinic, 2330 NW Flanders Street, Suite 207, Portland, OR 97210, 503-226-6678, twestover@aol.com

Type-specific serologic tests (TSST) for herpes are now available that allow us to confirm a clinical diagnosis in symptomatic patients and identify those infected but not aware of their infection. Such patients may be truly asymptomatic or simply fail to recognize their symptoms. One barrier to the use of these tests, however, is a consensus on how to use test results in managing patients. In fact, many clinicians report not testing for herpes antibodies due to the perceived difficulty of counseling patients, including those who are HSV-2 positive but have no symptoms. Effective talking points for patient discussions are needed to assist clinicians with the four possible combinations of test results: HSV-1 and HSV-2 seronegative, HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive, only HSV-1 seropositive, and only HSV-2 seropositive. This talk will provide clinicians with core counseling messages about genital herpes as well as messages tailored to patients' individual test results. Primary emphasis will be given to patients who test positive for HSV-2: what it means; what they can do to take care of themselves, including treatment options; and what they can do to take care of their partners, including condom use and suppressive antiviral therapy. Scenarios in which a patient tests positive for only HSV-1 will also be discussed, along with recommendations dependent on whether the infection is oral, genital, or unknown.

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 GSK, Novartis, Antigenics.