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William Nersesian, MD
Maine Bureau of Health Augusta, Me

JAMA. 1985;253(2):200.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Sullivan-Bolyai et al¹ make a good case for an increasing incidence of neonatal herpes simplex infections in King County, Washington. Although I, too, feel that this neonatal infection is on the rise, I do not believe the increase is as dramatic as portrayed in this particular article, although a number of biases may make it appear so.

The case definition used in the article required a positive viral culture. Although it is mentioned that laboratory procedures did not vary throughout the study period (1966 through 1982), it is difficult to believe that proficiency in isolating the virus did not improve during that span. There may very well have been refinements in obtaining cultures, transport media, and improved transport time that enhanced viral isolation and that were not under the control of the virus laboratory (user-dependent variables). Improved isolation capability would increase case counts over time. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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