Illness and Diseases

Superantigens include bacterial products (mainly ofstreptococci and staphylococci) that stimulate T cells to proliferate nonspecifically through interaction with class II major histocompatibility complex products on antigen-presenting cells and then with variable regions on the fJ chain of the T cell receptor complex. They include pyrogenic toxins (streptococcal scarlet fever toxins of serotypes A, B, and […]

With this success, however, came a new challenge, as breakthrough varicella disease received increasing attention from both public health officials and the general population. Prelicensure efficacy trials of a single dose of the vaccine had documented virtually 100% effectiveness in preventing moderate to severe varicella disease, and 80%–85% efficacy in the prevention of any varicella […]

In this issue of the Journal, Shapiro and colleagues present data from a case-controlled study of the effectiveness of 2 doses of varicella vaccine during the first several years after implementation of a routine 2-dose recommended schedule. At 98.3%, the effectiveness of the 2-dose schedule is welcome news indeed. These data validate the calculations of […]