HSV Educational Assessment from the International Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS)

Educational Needs Assessment

ICHS is conducting an assessment to identify gaps in knowledge and educational needs for those treating immunocompromised patients. Please respond to this brief survey by Monday, November 3, 2025. The results of the assessment will be shared in the ICHS webinar on November 12, 2025:

Managing Refractory and Resistant HSV Infections: Hope on the Horizon.

(ICHS Webinars are recorded and available as an enduring educational resource.)

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* 1. What types of immunocompromised patients do you care for (e.g., SOT, HSCT, HIV, etc). Please list all:

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* 2. Are you working in Pediatrics or with Adults?

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* 3. Please note if you work in ID, Hematology or Oncology.

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* 4. In your clinical practice, when treating herpes simplex virus mucocutaneous infection in immunocompromised hosts, what percentage of patients are refractory (failure of HSV positive lesion(s) to improve clinically or new HSV lesion(s) occurring after 7 days of appropriately dosed anti-HSV therapy) to initial anti-HSV therapy?

<5%

5-10%

11-15%

16-20%

>20%

Other (please specify)

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* 5. How do you manage an immunocompromised patient with refractory HSV mucocutaneous infection?

Continue to monitor the patient closely and submit the isolate for phenotypic/genotypic HSV resistance testing

Increase the dosage of the anti-HSV treatment the patient is receiving and closely monitor

Increase the dosage of the anti-HSV treatment the patient is receiving and send the isolate for HSV phenotypic/genotypic resistance testing

Change anti-HSV treatment and monitor closely

Change anti-HSV treatment and submit the isolate for phenotypic/genotypic HSV resistance testing

Other (please specify)

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* 6. When managing immunocompromised patients with refractory/potentially acyclovir-resistant HSV mucocutaneous infection, how frequently do you prescribe intravenous foscarnet as the next treatment option?

Never

Rarely (≤1 patient per year)

Occasionally (2–5 patients per year)

Frequently (>5 patients per year)

Other (please specify)

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* 7. When managing immunocompromised patients with refractory/potentially acyclovir-resistant HSV mucocutaneous infection, how frequently do you prescribe intravenous cidofovir as the next treatment option?

Never

Rarely (≤1 patient per year)

Occasionally (2–5 patients per year)

Frequently (>5 patients per year)

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Please describe the availability of HSV genotypic/phenotypic resistance testing at your institution

Unavailable

Available, but must be sent to an outside laboratory (provide estimated turnaround time in number of days)

Available, with limitations (please describe and the estimated turnaround time)

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* 9. When managing immunocompromised patients with refractory/potentially acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV) mucocutaneous infection, what other medications do you prescribed for treatment (free text treatment prescribed)

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* 10. What are your greatest concerns when using intravenous foscarnet? (select all that apply)

Nephrotoxicity

Electrolyte disturbances

Requirement for IV access and hospitalization

Monitoring burden (labs, hydration)

Patient tolerability/adherence

Other (please specify)

None of the above

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* 11. How would you rate the level of unmet need for an oral antiviral option for refractory and potentially acyclovir-resistant HSV infection in immunocompromised patients?

No unmet need

Low unmet need

Moderate unmet need

High unmet need

Critical unmet need

Other (please specify)

None of the above

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* 12. Which factors would most influence your decision to adopt a new oral antiviral for treatment of refractory and potentially acyclovir-resistant HSV infection in immunocompromised patients (please rank top 5)?

Improved efficacy compared to current therapies (e.g. IV foscarnet or cidofovir, topical imiquimod or foscarnet)

Improved safety/tolerability compared to current treatment (e.g. IV foscarnet or cidofovir, topical imiquimod or foscarnet)

Oral route of administration

Efficacy versus acyclovir and/or foscarnet-refractory/resistant HSV isolates

Reduction in hospitalization/resource use (including adverse events)

Inclusion in clinical guidelines

Improvement in quality-of-life indicators compared to foscarnet (e.g., faster HSV lesion or pain resolution)

Other (please specify)

None of the above

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* 13. Please list the country (countries) where you practice:

Thank you for completing this survey!