The Journal of infectious diseases
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Intravenous ganciclovir administered for 6 weeks improves hearing outcomes in infants with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease involving the central nervous system. ⋯ In neonates with symptomatic congenital CMV disease, valganciclovir oral solution provides plasma concentrations of ganciclovir comparable to those achieved with administration of intravenous ganciclovir. The results of the present study cannot be extrapolated to extemporaneously compounded liquid formulations of valganciclovir.
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A quadrivalent vaccine combining measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella antigens (MMRV) was developed to increase the coverage of varicella vaccine and reduce the number of injections children receive. Although the varicella antigen is as immunogenic in the latest formulation of MMRV vaccine as when it is administered alone, up to 14% of vaccine recipients do not achieve protective levels of anti-varicella antibodies after a single dose, which can result in breakthrough varicella. A second dose of varicella vaccine raises response rates to 99% and was recently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Giving the second dose 3 months after the first (at approximately 15 months of age) would provide more protection against varicella but would necessitate a change in the childhood vaccination schedule, which currently calls for a second dose of MMRV vaccine between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
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This study describes physicians' perception of burden associated with herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), intentions for recommending the HZ vaccine, and perceived barriers to vaccination. ⋯ Primary care physicians perceived a high level of burden from HZ and PHN and generally favored the HZ vaccine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Vaccination against Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) cause significant morbidity in older adults. The incidence and severity of HZ and PHN increase with age in association with an age-related decline in varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (VZV-CMI). VZV vaccines can boost VZV-CMI. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that VZV vaccination would protect older adults against HZ and PHN. ⋯ The Shingles Prevention Study demonstrated that HZ vaccine significantly reduced the morbidity due to HZ and PHN in older adults.