Is Eczema Herpeticum Associated with the Use of Hot Tubs?

Cutaneous bacterial infections, most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been clearly linked to use of hot tubs. A 10-year-old female with atopic eczema developed eczema herpeticum after hot tub use with a friend who had "fever blisters"; herpes simplex virus was recovered from cutaneous vesicles. Since herpesvirus has been shown to survive in the hot tub environment, herpes simplex should be considered as another potential cause of disease in the spa setting.