Herpes virus in an obstetric hospital. II: Asymptomatic virus excretion in staff members.

Serial studies of specimens of saliva from 384 asymptomatic members of staff of an obstetric hospital resulted in the isolation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) from 9.6%. This exposure rate of patients to HSV infection was contrasted with the very low incidence of HSV infection in neonates in Australia. Factors associated with the incidence of overt HSV infection and intermittent asymptomatic excretion of HSV were noted and assessed in relation to possible sites of virus location.