The most common route of transmission of herpesvirus infection to newborns is through fetal contact with the infected contents of the mother's genital tract during delivery. To date, no studies have been conducted to quantify the risk of transmitting herpes simplex virus (HSV) from mother to newborn, based on the characteristics of the mother's immune status ( specific antibodies) and the nature of the contact of the fetus with the infectious agent when passing through the birth canal. In addition, there is no evidence that cesarean delivery (the standard method in many countries for delivering women with genital herpes at the time of delivery) reduces the risk of intrapartum HSV infection.

In this regard, a prospective clinical study was conducted (January 1982 - December 1999), in which 7 medical establishments in Washington State (United States) participated. The study included 58,362 pregnant women. For virological and serological studies, 40,023 samples of material from the cervix and external genitalia and 31,663 samples of blood serum were collected.

Of the 22 women who had HSV at the time of delivery, 10 (5%) had children infected with the herpes virus (risk report - 346). The frequency of herpesvirus infection in babies born by caesarean section was 1.2%, while in naturally born children it was 7.7% (risk ratio 0.14, p = 0.047). The other risk factors for intranatal HSV infection were: the first episode of infection in the mother (risk ratio - 33.1), the presence of HSV in the discharge from the cervix (risk ratio - 32,6), the presence of a confirmed infection caused by HSV- in the mother at the time of delivery 1 (unlike the infection caused by HSV-2) (risk ratio - 16.5), the use of invasive monitoring methods during childbirth (risk ratio - 6.8), premature birth with a term of less than 38 weeks (risk ratio - 4.4), the age of the mother is under 21 years of age (risk ratio - 4.1).

The frequency of herpes virus infection in newborns born to HIV-negative mothers was 54 cases per 100,000 live births, in newborns of mothers who had anti-HSV-1 antibodies - 26 per 100,000 and mothers who had anti-HSV-2 antibodies - 22 per 100,000.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the frequency of herpesvirus infections in newborns can be reduced by preventing the mother's prenatal infection by HSV-1 and HSV-2. In addition, this can be achieved by cesarean delivery, as well as by limiting the use of invasive monitoring methods during delivery in mothers infected with HSV, which was confirmed microbiologically at the time of birth. 'delivery.