HSV in pregnancy

• Infection with herpes simplex virus during pregnancy
• Highest risk for transmission is perinatal primary infection

Risk of neonatal acquisition of HSV based on maternal serostatus

Serology	Neonatal HSV per 100,000 births
Negative	54
HSV-1 only	26
HSV-2 only	35
HSV-1 + HSV-2	12
HSV-2 ± HSV-1	22

• If acquired during pregnancy, HSV can cause spontaneous abortion and should be treated for 7 to 10 days
• If HSV-2-positive, then if there are lesions or PCR-positivity at time of labour, could consider Cesarean section