DETECTION OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS-DNA IN NASOPHARYNGEAL SECRETIONS OF IMMUNE HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS OF VARICELLA

Persons immune to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are not at risk for dev eloping clinical infection after exposure to varicella. However, the e xtent to which they might serve as vectors for the transmission of VZV to others is not known. Information in this regard would be important in establishing hospital infection control policies, especially in re lation to the care of immunocompromised hosts. A polymerase chain reac tion-based detection system was used to detect the presence of VZV DNA in the nasopharyngeal secretions of household contacts of children wi th varicella. VZV DNA was identified in 4 of 5 immune adults and 1 sus ceptible sibling when sampled within 3 days of recognition of a househ old case of varicella. Further investigations are needed to determine whether this represents a limited window of VZV replication in the nas opharynx of immune persons during which they may serve as vectors of V ZV.