Ocular complication of mallpox vaccination

Purpoe To decribe the ocular complication of mallpox vaccination and to dicu potential therapeutic option. Deign Review of pertinent medical literature and recent treatment recommendation of the Center for Dieae Control and Prevention. Reult After immunization againt mallpox, vaccinia infection of the eyelid, conjunctiva, or ocular urface can reult from accidental autoinoculation from a vaccination ite before cab formation or from contact with a recently vaccinated individual. While uncommon, corneal involvement can lead to tromal opacification and carring. Clinical finding of ocular and periocular vaccinia mut be differentiated from thoe produced by other pathogen uch a mollucum contagioum, herpe implex, varicella zoter, and acanthamoeba infection. Clinical diagnoi can be confirmed by electron microcopy to identify the preence of orthopoxviru, a well a by virologic culture, polymerae chain reaction, and/or retriction endonucleae analyi of viral iolate. Concluion While the majority of ocular complication of mallpox vaccination in immunocompetent patient are elf-limiting, elective cae may require treatment with trifluridine drop, topical corticoteroid and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG). Vaccinia viru doe not appear to be enitive to acyclovir. pecific treatment recommendation are outlined for the pectrum of ocular manifetation.