CMV (Cytomegalovirus) eradication for UC?

CMV infection, almost invariably asymptomatic, is present in something like 50-80% of the US population, so clearly in most normies it is completely benign.  But a quick search for the term "CMV" in conjunction with "UC" or "IBD" yields  a lot of research hits including some who implicate it as exacerbating UC to the point of becoming refractory or steroid-dependent.  The thing is, it is very difficult to eradicate and would require a bunch of harsh antibiotics.  I am awaiting a CMV antibody test, but with 50+ % of the population testing positive, it doesn't seem it would prove anything much.  Just curious if anyone else has investigated or tested for this. 

I just found out about CMV other day when I was reading about colonic tissue cultures. I was reading and thinking that maybe my doctor was going to call me and say that I had CMV from the culture of my tissue. She didn't. She called to tell me things were looking pretty normal. I guess I don't have CMV, that is of course assuming that they normally do a tissue culture when you get biopsies.

If it had something to do with Herpes, would valtrex help? There is really not much you can do for herpes.

From the quick search I just did, it appears it's not suspected unless you don't respond to steroid treatment. And wouldn't it require an antiviral? I don't know what an antibiotic would do against a virus.

Notsosicklygirl-- are CMV cultures normally done at all from biopsies? I'd think not. I assume they have to be specifically ordered and are not part of routine pathology. It peeves me now that I have had a bunch of scopes, if CMV cultures have not been made. You'd figure it should be done routinely to anyone who is having difficulty getting into remission on standard meds. I am awaiting antibody blood tests, but since up to 80% of the adult US population has CMV antibodies, I am not sure these will be of much value.

I'd like to think that, since I do respond to steroid (but I am unable to get off of them), that this is proof that CMV is not to blame- but I don't know if this is an accurate means of verifying CMV's role in my IBD, if any.