Herpes simplex virus (HSV)

Diagnosis
Initial negative HSV PCR in CSF may occur in 4% of patients, especially in those with neurological deficits and lower CSF WBCs.

Acyclovir
All patients with HSV encephalitis should be treated with IV acyclovir 10 mg/kg IV within 6 hours of hospital admission. This is a Neurocritical Care Society Clinical Performance Measure.

Delayed recognition and treatment of the disorder is associated with an increased odds of poor neurological outcome.