Combating high-priority biological agents: What to do with drug-allergic patients and those for whom vaccination is contraindicated?

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The threat of bioterrorism continues to be a very real one. Regularly, there are news stories on bioterrorism-related topics: What biologic weapons will our enemies likely use to attack the United States? How prepared is our country to successfully counter such attacks? Although these critical questions are being addressed by the leaders of our country, allergists-immunologists, too, will have to grapple with difficult questions during these uncertain and frightening times. We care for a special group of patients with various allergic and immunologic disorders. Some of our patients have immunodeficiency disorders that might preclude them from receiving life-saving vaccines. Our patients with drug allergies are fearful that should they become infected with a biologic agent, they will not be able to receive appropriate treatment. In this article we focus on the various vaccine-related and antibiotic-related adverse effects that the allergist-immunologist might see during treatment of infections caused by Category A agents. Where possible, potential management approaches are outlined.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)675-682
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume112
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2003

Keywords

  • Anthrax
  • Antibiotic allergy
  • Bioterrorism
  • Botulism
  • Category a biologic agents
  • Plague
  • Smallpox
  • Vaccine-related adverse reactions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Combating high-priority biological agents: What to do with drug-allergic patients and those for whom vaccination is contraindicated?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this