Herpes simplex burn wound infections: epidemiology of a case cluster and responses to acyclovir therapy.

Nosocomial transmission of herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been described in intensive care units. A cluster of three patients with HSV wound infections within a 6-week period prompted temporary closure of a burn unit and suggested nosocomial cross infection. However, restriction endonuclease "fingerprint" analysis of the HSV isolates showed them to be genetically and therefore epidemiologically unrelated. This report describes these cases and the use of intravenous acyclovir in the treatment of HSV burn wound infections.