Ocular herpes simplex virus infections: reduced sensitivity to acyclovir in primary disease.

Forty isolates of herpes simplex virus (HSV) obtained from ocular herpetic infections were assayed for their sensitivity to five antiviral agents. There were wide ranges of sensitivity to foscarnet, idoxuridine, and vidarabine, but the majority were sensitive to acyclovir and ganciclovir. Reduced sensitivity to acyclovir was seen in four isolates, all of which were from primary infections acquired in the community and without a previous history of treatment with antiviral drugs.