Ocular Vaccinia Infection in Laboratory Worker, Philadelphia, 2004

Abstract

We report a case of ocular vaccinia infection in an unvaccinated laboratory worker. The patient was infected by a unique strain used in an experiment performed partly outside a biosafety cabinet. Vaccination should continue to be recommended, but laboratories with unvaccinated workers should also implement more stringent biosafety practices.

Keywords

• Poxviridae infections
• vaccinia virus
• laboratory-acquired infection
• vaccinia immune globulin
• biosafety practices, dispatch
• United States