Year: 2005
Type: editorial
Abstract: relationships, or among individuals with HIV infectionrequires measured clinical judgment until further studies are available.Furthermore, the vexed question remains of whether the notable reduction in transmission provided by valaciclovir would be achieved by other antiviral drugs, such as aciclovir or famciclovir, and if so, at what dose?Without comparative data, individual prescribing decisions in specific healthcare settings will need to be made on the basis of factors including availability, potential adherence, and cost.That no evidence of viral resistance was detected in those individuals who became infected in this study is reassuring.That some susceptible individuals did become infected reinforces the message that valaciclovir reduced the frequency of HSV reactivation, subclinical shedding, and transmission of genital herpes, but it did not eliminate it.Antiviral treatment is thus not a substitute for other methods to control the spread of sexually transmitted infections but an additional tool.Patients should also be advised to continue using condoms, practise safer sex, and inform their partner about transmissible infections they have.The risk of transmitting genital herpes will not be removed, but patients can be assured that they are doing everything they can to reduce the risk of infecting a loved one.
Source: BMJ
Institutions: Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Cardiff University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1989769131