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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

James R. Allen, MD, MPH, American Social Health Association, PO Box 13827, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-361-8400, JamAll@ASHAstd.org, Gary Richwald, MD, Former Director and Chief Physician, Los Angeles County STD Program, 250 Fifth Avenue, Venice, CA 90291, Peter A. Leone, MD, School of Medicine- Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll, 130 Mason Farm Road, CB 7030, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, and Zane A. Brown, MD, University of Washington, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Box 356460, Seattle, WA 98195.

Genital herpes, most often caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States, affecting more than 50 million adults, and with an annual incidence of more than 1 million new infections. This symposium presents current information about diagnosis and management of HSV-2 infection in three populations: the general public, people with HIV infection, and pregnant women. (1) The use of accurate type-specific serological tests for herpes and antiviral agents to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks and asymptomatic shedding of HSV-2 both improve clinical management and reduce transmission to others. (2) People with HSV-2 are at increased risk of HIV infection if exposed to HIV, and HSV-2 co-infection in people who are HIV infected increases the potential for more rapid progression of the HIV infection. (3) A significant complication of genital herpes is transmission to a neonate born to an HSV infected woman. Serologic testing of pregnant women and careful management of the pregnancy, particularly during labor and delivery, can significantly reduce risk of neonatal infection.

Implementing the recommendations recommended in this session can reduce morbidity and mortality associated with HSV infection, and increase quality of life for people with genital herpes.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this symposium, participants will be able to describe current issues about herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, including the utility of type-specific serological testing in various patient populations, current management recommendations to reduce the clinical and epidemiological significance of genital herpes in the general population and in people co-infected with HSV and HIV, and management recommendations to reduce the risk of HSV infection in newborn infants.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation