Infections respiratoires à  virus herpes simplex en réanimation

This disease seems common, but its diagnosis remains difficult because clinical, biological and radiological signs are not specific. HSV bronchopneumonitis is defined as a clinical deterioration, associated with HSV in lower respiratory tract and HSV-specific nuclear inclusions in cells of the bronchiolo-alveolar compartment. Risk factors associated with HSV bronchopneumonitis are oral-labial lesions, HSV in throat and macroscopic bronchial lesions seen during bronchoscopy. HSV bronchopneumonitis seems associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stays, but the efficacy of a specific antiviral agent in this population remains to be determinate.