Clinical Markers and Outcomes of Neonates With Herpes Simplex Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid Persistence in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Disseminated and Central Nervous System Infection.

We compared the clinical course of neonates with persistence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after 21 days of treatment with high-dose acyclovir to that of neonates with clearance of the CSF after 21 days of therapy. Neonates with persistence of HSV DNA had a more severe clinical course with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes.