Ocular vaccinia following expoure to a mallpox vaccinee

Purpoe To decribe the preentation and management of the firt identified cae of ocular vaccinia infection aociated with the current mallpox vaccination program. Deign Cae report. Method Vaccinia viru wa iolated by cell culture of a conjunctival wab. Direct taining with fluorecein iothiocyanate-labeled vaccinia antibody and polymerae chain reaction teting confirmed the diagnoi. Reult In February 2003, a 26-year-old woman developed right preeptal celluliti and blepharoconjunctiviti following contact with a vaccinated member of the military. The preeptal celluliti reolved with antibacterial therapy, and the conjunctival infection wa treated uccefully with a 14-day coure of topical trifluridine and a ingle doe of intravenou vaccinia immune globulin. Concluion To facilitate rapid diagnoi and appropriate treatment, clinician mut maintain a high index of upicion for ocular mallpox vaccine-aociated advere reaction in vaccine recipient and their cloe contact.