Treatment of herpes simplex virus infections

Herpes simplex viral infections are common in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. While nucleoside analogues such as acyclovir remain the mainstay of HSV treatment and prophylaxis, the emergence of drug-resistant strains has stimulated the search for new antiviral drugs. Effective control of HSV infections is now possible with such potent antiviral agents as nucleoside analogues (famciclovir), pyrophosphate analogues (foscarnet), and phosphonate analogues (cidofovir).