Impervious

Haggerty and Halsey report a case of a 23-year-old medical technician endured a difficult lesson on the value of disposable gloves. The patient was diagnosed with acyclovir-resistant herpetic whitlow due to HSV-2 infection. His HSV infection has resulted in significant morbidity, causing not only painful lesions but also restriction of clinical duties. In addition to multiple treatments with oral antiviral medications, he was given trials of topical imiquimod and cidofovir, both without lasting success. This case highlights the necessity of adherence to standard precautions and the use of personal protective equipment; the importance of considering antiviral resistance in immunocompetent patients; the need for new treatment strategies in HSV infections; and the need for further investigation into the correlation of low CD4 counts and HSV outbreaks.