Published in:
01-05-2008 | Case Report/Clinical Vignettes
Live, Attenuated Varicella Zoster Vaccination of an Immunocompromised Patient
Authors:
Kelly K. Curtis, MD, Megan K. Connolly, RN, BSN, OCN, Donald W. Northfelt, MD, FACP
Published in:
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|
Issue 5/2008
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Abstract
A vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster outbreaks in adults over the age of 60 years has recently been approved. A 76-year-old white female with a history of recurrent left axillary breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy was given a Zostavax® injection by her primary care physician. Eight days later, the patient developed a rash. Given the recent administration of live, attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV), a diagnosis of disseminated cutaneous herpes zoster was made. The patient was treated successfully with a course of famciclovir for 10 days and cephalexin for 7 days for a secondary bacterial infection. A review of the medical literature disclosed no reports of Zostavax® given to adult cancer patients immunocompromised by systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, we believe this report is the first to describe the consequences of Zostavax® administration to such a host. Clinicians should take care to review contraindications and precautions prior to administering the Zostavax® vaccine.