Herpes simplex virus infections in pulmonary cytology rarely represent pulmonary disease but remain a marker for mortality risk

Compared with prior series, most patients with HSV inclusions in pulmonary cytology specimens have fewer cells with inclusions, have oral and or cutaneous disease as well, and are not treated for pulmonary HSV. Nevertheless, this finding is associated with a risk of death, from both pulmonary infection and/or comorbid disease.