Impact of acyclovir use on survival of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia and high load herpes simplex virus replication

Abstract

In patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, antibiotic treatment failure, and high levels of HSV replication, acyclovir treatment was associated with a significantly longer time to death in the ICU and improved circulatory and pulmonary function. This suggests a causative role for HSV in this highly selected group of patients.