The Acquisition of Herpes Simplex Virus during Pregnancy

The prevalence of genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and its most serious complication, neonatal herpes, has increased during the past two decades. 1 – 6 Neonatal HSV infection most commonly results from contact between the newborn and either HSV type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV type 2 (HSV-2) that is present in the birth canal of an asymptomatic mother during labor and delivery. 7 – 9 The consequences of neonatal infection with HSV are frequently catastrophic; death of the infected neonate or severe neurodevelopmental disability is common. 10 HSV can be asymptomatically present in the genital tract at the time of labor as a . . .