Prophylactic Acyclovir Therapy and Herpes Simplex
Authors: Richard Ambinder, William Burns, Paul Lietman, Rein Saral
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Letters and Corrections1 June 1984Prophylactic Acyclovir Therapy and Herpes SimplexRICHARD AMBINDER, M.D., WILLIAM BURNS, M.D., PAUL LIETMAN, M.D., PH.D., REIN SARAL, M.D.RICHARD AMBINDER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, WILLIAM BURNS, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, PAUL LIETMAN, M.D., PH.D.Search for more papers by this author, REIN SARAL, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-100-6-920_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Dr. Vartian is concerned that prophylactic acyclovir therapy in immunocompromised patients may lead to the emergence of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex (1, 2). We believe that his concern is misplaced.With bacterial infection, one may argue, prophylaxis fosters the emergence of resistance, but the situation is different with viral infections, when the virus involved has a life cycle that includes a latent state. We argue that in addition to being effective, prophylactic therapy minimizes the likelihood of the emergence of acyclovir resistance and that antiviral resistance will occur predominantly among patients being treated for active disease. Our reasoning...References1. VARTIAN C. Acyclovir and overuse of antibiotics [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:463. LinkGoogle Scholar2. SARALAMBINDERBURNS RRW. Acyclovir prophylaxis against herpes simplex virus infection in patients with leukemia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Intern Med. 1983;99:773-6. LinkGoogle Scholar3. AMBINDERBURNSSARAL RWR. Restriction endonuclease fingerprinting of acyclovir resistant herpes simplex infections occurring in an oncology unit [Abstract]. In: Program and Abstracts of the American Society for Microbiology General Meeting. St. Louis: American Society for Microbiology; 1984. Google Scholar4. WADEMCLARENMEYERS JCJ. Frequency and significance of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus isolated from marrow transplant patients receiving multiple courses of treatment with acyclovir. J Infect Dis. 1983;148:1077-82. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. AMBINDERBURNSLIETMANSARAL RWPR. Prophylaxis: a strategem to minimize antiviral resistance. Lancet. 1984. (In press.) CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center The Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, MD 21205 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByAntiviral prophylaxis in haematological patients: Systematic review and meta-analysisResistance of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections to Nucleoside Analogues in HIV‐Infected PatientsManagement of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virusOrofacial herpes simplex virus infections: Current concepts in the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment, and disorders in which the virus may be implicatedProphylactic and suppressive treatment with acyclovir and the management of herpes in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndromeChemotherapy of herpesvirus infections: Present successes and future hopes 1 June 1984Volume 100, Issue 6Page: 920-921KeywordsAntiviral therapyHerpes simplexProphylaxisReasoning Issue Published: 1 June 1984 PDF DownloadLoading ...