Austin H, Macaluso M, Nahmias A, Lee F K, Kelaghan J, Fleenor M, Hook E W
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Sex Transm Dis. 1999 Jul;26(6):329-34. doi: 10.1097/00007435-199907000-00004.
Infections by herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are common in the United States. Herpes simplex virus type 2 is transmitted sexually, and the prevalence of antibodies to HSV-2 has increased in recent years.
The objective of the present study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies among women attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and to evaluate factors associated with HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity.
The report describes a cross-sectional study conducted at an STD clinic. This study included 1,103 women between the ages of 18 and 35. Eighty-nine percent of the subjects were African Americans. The remaining subjects were white.
The overall prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies among study subjects was 72% and 64%, respectively. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity were related directly to age and were higher among African Americans than whites. The prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies also increased with the number of lifetime sexual partners, an early age at first coitus, a history of syphilis, and the absence of HSV-1 antibodies. Drug use and recent use of barrier contraception were unrelated to either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Despite efforts by the public health community to prevent AIDS by promoting safe sexual practices, the prevalence of HSV-2 seropositivity has increased in recent years. Increased numbers of partners and an early age at first coitus are important correlates of HSV-2 infection. Public health interventions to prevent HSV-2 infection should target teenagers. Women of reproductive age attending STD clinics may also comprise an important target for interventions to prevent perinatal herpes.
1型单纯疱疹病毒（HSV-1）和2型单纯疱疹病毒（HSV-2）感染在美国很常见。2型单纯疱疹病毒通过性传播，近年来HSV-2抗体的流行率有所上升。
本研究的目的是估计在一家性传播疾病（STD）诊所就诊的女性中HSV-1和HSV-2抗体的血清流行率，并评估与HSV-1和HSV-2血清阳性相关的因素。
该报告描述了在一家STD诊所进行的一项横断面研究。本研究纳入了1103名年龄在18至35岁之间的女性。89%的受试者为非裔美国人。其余受试者为白人。
研究对象中HSV-1和HSV-2抗体的总体流行率分别为72%和64%。HSV-1和HSV-2血清阳性均与年龄直接相关，且在非裔美国人中高于白人。HSV-2抗体的流行率也随着终身性伴侣数量、首次性交的年龄、梅毒病史以及HSV-1抗体的缺乏而增加。药物使用和近期使用屏障避孕与HSV-1或HSV-2均无关。
尽管公共卫生界努力通过推广安全性行为来预防艾滋病，但近年来HSV-2血清阳性的流行率有所上升。性伴侣数量增加和首次性交年龄早是HSV-2感染的重要相关因素。预防HSV-2感染的公共卫生干预措施应针对青少年。在STD诊所就诊的育龄妇女也可能是预防围产期疱疹干预措施的重要目标人群。
