Valacyclovir Prophylaxis in Immunocompromised Patients: A Paradigm Shift from Treatment to Prevention of Viral Morbidity

The management of herpesvirus infections in immunocompromised patients has long been a reactive endeavor, characterized by diagnosing and treating clinically apparent disease. The demonstrable and transformative advance in the use of valacyclovir (the prodrug of acyclovir, marketed as Valtrex) lies in its validated, evidence-based application for long-term prophylaxis. This strategic shift from episodic treatment to