RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Neonatal sepsis: A, B, C–don’t ever forget herpes JF BMJ Case Reports FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP bcr0720114423 DO 10.1136/bcr.07.2011.4423 VO 2011 A1 Lucy Anne Fitzgerald A1 Diluki Kevitiyagala A1 Steve Gould A1 Stanley Zengeya YR 2011 UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2011/bcr.07.2011.4423.abstract AB A 5-day-old male presents to the emergency department septic and jaundiced, is resuscitated and started on broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics. However tragically in this case despite showing initial signs of stabilisation, he deteriorated with refractory metabolic acidosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, and later passed away. At postmortem, disseminated herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) was found. Paediatricians are well aware of the risk factors for bacterial neonatal sepsis and actively seek information from parents to identify those children at risk. When however should a viral aetiology be considered? Should all neonates receive empirical therapy until proven otherwise? The authors review the literature surrounding neonatal HSV infection and discuss the potential pitfalls of empirical treatment.