HERPESVIRUS INFECTIONS IN PERSONS INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Herpesviruses are among the most common causes of infections of humans . Viruses in this family share the unique biological property of being able to establish latency and to recur, Furthermore, chronic excretio n of virus is not uncommon, In the immunocompromised host, including p ersons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, herpesvirus disease can be particularly severe, resulting in chronic, persistent, active infection and, in some cases, life-threatening disease. The mos t pathogenic of the herpesviruses in patients with AIDS include herpes simplex viruses, human cytomegalovirus, and varicella-zoster virus, D isease caused by Epstein-Barr virus, particularly opportunistic malign ancies, has been recognized, A new herpesvirus that is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma was recently described. On the other hand, disease c aused by human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in persons infected with HIV rema ins to be unequivocally recognized. Prevention of exposure to herpesvi ruses, disease, and recurrence requires different measures than those for some of the other opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patient s; this is because herpesvirus disease develops in most of these indiv iduals as a result of reactivation rather than primary infection. Thus , approaches to the prevention and control of herpesvirus infections m ust be individualized according to both the type of virus as well as t he type of infection (i.e., primary or recurrent). We discuss recommen ded measures for the prevention and control of these infections.