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Topical drug beats out intravenous form in treating smallpox vaccine side effects

Infection Control Monitor, October 1, 2004

A recent study found that a topical form of an antiviral drug is more effective at combating infections resulting after immunization from the smallpox vaccine than an intravenous form, Reuters reports.

Researchers from Utah State University used a both a cream and intravenous forms of cidofovir, an antiviral drug, on mice with defective immune systems. The mice had developed infections from the virus used in the smallpox vaccine.

Their study found that both forms of cidofovir were effective in delaying death, but the topical form was better than the intravenous form at reducing the number of infected body sites as well as virus levels in the skin.

These findings appear in the September issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering cidofovir for treatment of smallpox vaccine complications.

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