vaccine-strain varicella infection
Chickenpox caused by live attenuated vaccine virus in severely immunocompromised patients, indicating profound immune dysfunction.
Full Definition
Vaccine-strain varicella infection occurs when the live attenuated varicella vaccine virus (Oka strain) causes symptomatic disease in severely immunocompromised patients who cannot mount an adequate immune response to contain the vaccine virus. This complication is particularly concerning in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency, severe cellular immune dysfunction, or those receiving intensive immunosuppressive therapy. The infection may present as disseminated disease with visceral involvement and can be life-threatening. Molecular testing can distinguish vaccine-strain from wild-type varicella-zoster virus, which is important for epidemiologic and treatment considerations.
Usage
Usage note: Requires molecular testing to distinguish from wild-type infection; contraindication to further live vaccines.
In Context
- "PCR testing confirmed vaccine-strain varicella infection in the immunocompromised infant, indicating severe T-cell dysfunction." — Virology report
- "The development of vaccine-strain varicella infection following routine immunization prompted urgent immunologic evaluation." — Clinical note