Absence of pharyngeal shedding of vaccinia following smallpox vaccination.
To examine oral shedding of vaccinia in volunteers who were recently vaccinated against smallpox, pharyngeal swabs were collected for viral culture between days 3 and 5 and days 6 and 8 after vaccination with diluted Sanofi Pasteur smallpox vaccine. From 102 adult volunteers (48 vaccinia-naive, 54 vaccinia-experienced), vaccinia was not detected in any specimen (0/201, 95% confidence interval, 0-1.8), which suggests a lack of oral shedding of vaccinia after immunization. This supports recommendations that individuals who were recently vaccinated against smallpox do not require placement in airborne or droplet precautions.
Talbot
Thomas R
TR
Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. tom.talbot@vanderbilt.edu
Peters
Jody
J
Wright
Peter F
PF
Edwards
Kathryn M
KM
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology*; D012899:Smallpox / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017201:Virus Shedding
D012900:Smallpox Vaccine