Clinical relevance of herpes simplex virus in the throat of elderly with Salmonella enteritidis gastroenteritis.

It is not known whether the presence of Herpes simplex virus in the throat of elderly patients with severe gastroenteritis and pulmonary implications is of clinical relevance. We cultured throat swabs and faeces of elderly patients with (n = 11) and without (n = 12) severe Salmonella gastroenteritis for viruses and bacteria to study the aetiology of respiratory complications. Complement fixation titers for anti-Herpes simplex antibodies in paired sera were also ascertained. Throat swabs of 6 out of 11 elderly patients with severe Salmonella enteritidis gastroenteritis were positive for Herpes simplex virus type 1. However, a four-fold increase of anti-Herpes simplex antibody titers in paired sera could not be demonstrated. None of the 12 throat swabs of elderly patients without gastro enteritis grew Herpes simplex virus. No other pathogens causing pulmonary complications could be demonstrated in throat swabs of the elderly patients. Herpes simplex virus present in the throat of the elderly patients was very probably not the agent responsible for the pulmonary complications and consequently treatment with acyclovir was not indicated. Weakness caused by severe gastroenteritis and the relative T-lymphocyte immunodeficiency state in the elderly probably enhanced the shedding of Herpes simplex virus in the throat of the elderly patients, without clinical relevance.